PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – Suriname has nominated the Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation Minister, Albert Ramdin, as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).
At the same time, the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country has withdrawn its bid to hold the 54th regular general meeting of the OAS here later this year.
Instead, Paramaribo proposes that it is prepared to host the OAS’s 56th general meeting in 2026.
“I am writing to formally convey a decision made by the Government of Suriname regarding our offer to host the 54th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in June 2024. We made this offer in June 2023 with great enthusiasm and commitment to the principles and values of the OAS,” President Chandrikapersad Santokhi said in a letter dated January 3, 2024, to OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro.
But he said circumstances have “evolved” since the offer, leading the government to reconsider its position in the best interest of the OAS and the member states.
“Since our offer to host the General Assembly, Suriname has nominated our esteemed Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, as a candidate for the position of Secretary General of the OAS.
“Recognizing the potential for perceived advantages by hosting the General Assembly where discussions regarding the next Secretary-General will occur, the Government of Suriname is committed to upholding the integrity and transparency of the election process,” Santokhi wrote in his letter.
Santokhi, who held a news conference on Monday but made no reference to these developments, noted in his letter that in light of these considerations, the government has “taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from hosting the 54th General Assembly in June 2024”.
According to the President, this step is essential for the government to ensure “absolute transparency and impartiality of the electoral process,” reiterating the offer to host the 56th OAS annual meeting.
“We hope member states will favorably consider this new offer,” he said.
It is not yet clear what Ramdin’s chances are of being chosen as the new Secretary General and whether there are other candidates. Ramdin served as OAS assistant secretary general from July 2005 to July 2015. Still, the Desi Bouterse administration did not nominate him for the top post at the OAS when it became vacant in May.
Responding to his nomination for the top OAS post, Ramdin, 65, said he had been nominated for the position after President Santokhi consulted on the matter.
“They were positive, and he then decided to take that step,” said Ramdin, noting that he does not have to resign his current ministerial post to conduct his campaign.
Ramdin said that the elections for the OAS Secretary General will be held in 2025 and that the appointment of the new Secretary General will take place in June that year.
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