Anthony Albert Ramdin of Suriname was chosen as the OAS’s first secretary general for the Caribbean

On Monday, the Organization of American States (OAS) elected Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin as its new secretary general until 2030. Ramdin succeeds Uruguayan diplomat Luis Almagro and becomes the organization’s first Caribbean chief.

Ramdin, who is 66 years old, has been the top diplomat of Suriname since 2020. He was previously the assistant secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS) for two mandates, from 2005 to 2015.

He has advocated for the organization to operate more efficiently and has emphasized the necessity of providing more comprehensive assistance to Haiti, which is currently grappling with a conflict against armed groups and has received limited international assistance.

Suriname’s government issued a statement emphasizing that the occasion marks the inaugural election of a representative from the Caribbean as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).

“It is a great honor for Suriname that our candidate has been supported by the vast majority of the member states.”

Ramdin’s “calm assurance” as a trusted advisor and adept diplomat has been commended by Suriname’s President Chan Santokhi.

Despite being on the South American continent, Suriname maintains more robust diplomatic relations with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

It has opposed the sanctions imposed by the United States against Venezuela and has backed neighboring Guyana in a territorial dispute with Venezuela over the border region of Esequibo.

In 2017, Venezuela’s government declared its intention to initiate a process of withdrawal from the Organization of American States (OAS). However, the organization has since acknowledged representatives from Venezuela’s political opposition. There is presently no representative from the organization at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington.

Diplomats from other CARICOM nations expressed optimism that Ramdin’s appointment would enhance diversity and representation in the Caribbean’s smaller nations, which are currently grappling with pressing issues such as climate change, gun violence, and high debt.

Ramdin will continue to serve as foreign minister until May 25, when Almagro’s term concludes and Suriname is scheduled to conduct a national election. Following the election, it is anticipated that Ramdin will focus on strengthening regional cooperation and addressing the challenges that face the Caribbean community. His leadership is expected to foster dialogue and collaborative efforts among member states to tackle these time-sensitive issues effectively.

(Reported by Sarah Morland in Mexico City, Vivian Sequera in Caracas, and Ank Kuipers in Paramaribo)