Johnson-Smith congratulates new OAS secretary-general

Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith, has extended congratulations to Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation, Albert Ramdin, on his election as the new Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS).

“It is with the greatest pride and pleasure that I extend, on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, our heartiest congratulations to His Excellency Albert Ramdin of the Republic of Suriname on his election as the first Caribbean national to hold the position of Secretary-General of the OAS,” said Johnson-Smith.

Minister Ramdin’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the OAS.

“We all need the OAS to fulfill its core mandate of securing peace and justice, promoting solidarity, strengthening collaboration, and defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of its member states, as outlined in Article 1 of the OAS Charter,” said Senator Johnson-Smith, who led Jamaica’s delegation to the Special General Assembly.

She emphasised that given these significant responsibilities, the organisation must not falter. Jamaica is confident that Minister Ramdin possesses the skills and expertise necessary to build consensus among member states, enhance synergies among Inter-American bodies and agencies, and effectively engage the private sector and civil society in addressing key issues such as poverty, food and energy insecurity, climate change, irregular migration, and violence against women and girls.

Ramdin, who previously served as assistant secretary-general of the OAS from 2005 to 2015, was elected to serve as secretary-general for the 2025–2030 term during the 56th Special Session of the OAS General Assembly at its headquarters on Monday.

Senator Johnson-Smith also paid tribute to outgoing Secretary-General Luis Almagro for his decade of service to the OAS.

“Secretary-General Almagro’s stewardship and advocacy on behalf of the organisation have – despite moments of controversy – ensured that the principles enshrined in the OAS Charter, particularly those concerning the rule of law, democracy, and human rights, remain upheld as critical complements to security and sustainable development,” she stated.

She further commended Almagro for his contributions to scholarship initiatives in language training, science, engineering, teacher training, management, capacity building, and security. She highlighted the flagship New Path Project, which has provided numerous young Jamaicans with training in innovative entrepreneurship.

Addressing regional cooperation, Johnson-Smith stressed the importance of collective action in achieving progress. She highlighted the ongoing crisis in Haiti, urging continued and dedicated efforts to restore peace and stability so that ordinary Haitians can live in harmony.

“Jamaica, along with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has been working diligently towards this objective, and we are grateful for the OAS’s unwavering support in this regard. I urge member states, partners, and the international community to continue assisting Haiti as it takes steps toward lasting peace, stability, and the holding of free, fair, and transparent elections,” she stated.

Commenting on the escalating tensions between Guyana and Venezuela, Johnson-Smith reaffirmed Jamaica’s strong support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“I wish to publicly and categorically reaffirm Jamaica’s unwavering support for Guyana and underscore our condemnation of any actions that seek to escalate tensions. We encourage adherence to the process before the International Court of Justice and urge restraint and dialogue in keeping with our commitment to designating our region as a Zone of Peace,” she asserted.

During her time in Washington, Senator Johnson-Smith held bilateral meetings with Peru’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elner Shialer; Uruguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar Paganini; and President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Jose Luiz Caballero.