WASHINGTON, DC – Suriname's former foreign affairs minister, Albert Ramdin, was on Friday sworn in as the new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), promising to implement four new main priorities during the first year of his five-year stint.
OAS Secretary General delivering his inaugural speech to a special session of the OAS Permanent Council on Friday“Let this moment not be remembered as the beginning of a new administration,” Ramdin said, “but as the beginning of a new era.”
Ramdin, a former OAS assistant secretary general, replaces Luis Almagro the Uruguayan lawyer, diplomat, and politician, who served as the 10th OAS Secretary General. Ramdin praised Almargo for his commitment to peace, human rights and democracy and welcomed Colombian diplomat Laura Gil as the future first female Under-Secretary-General of the OAS.
In his inaugural address, Ramdin outlined his vision for the world’s oldest multilateral organization especially at a time of geopolitical tensions, democratic backsliding and social inequality.
He told the Special meeting of the OAS Permanent Council that the strength of the Americas lies in its people, its diversity, culture and history. He said from the modern cities of North America to the indigenous traditions of Central and South America, to the cultural richness of the Caribbean, it is these elements that, according to him, form the basis for cooperation and mutual understanding.
Ramdin described the OAS as not just a bureaucracy, but as the “beating heart of cooperation, peace and regional unity.
“In a world full of divisions, the OAS has proven that cooperation based on equality and dialogue works,” he said, adding that if the OAS did not exist today, it should be re-established immediately.
He said his four main priorities during his first year in office will include the internal strengthening of the organization, saying “the OAS must become more effective, agile and cost-conscious”.
He said there will be a new organizational chart, monthly cabinet meetings, improved internal communications, and a focus on staff well-being and career development. A change management unit will also be set up within his office.
In addition, Ramdin said the OAS must become more visible to citizens in the region, advocating modern communications, with campaigns, storytelling and active involvement of universities, civil society and media.
He said through arts, culture and education, he wants to bring the people of the continent closer to the organization.
The former Suriname senior government minister said that financial sustainability of the OAS “is crucial” and that he wants to attract more resources structurally through renewed partnerships with development banks, the private sector and observers.
“The contribution of the private sector, non-government organizations and multilateral institutions should lead to more impactful programs,” he added.
With respect to Haiti, Ramdin said the situation in the country poses the greatest challenge for the hemisphere.
He said the OAS will support a roadmap for security, political reform and institutional reconstruction and announced the relaunch of the “Group of Friends of Haiti” to coordinate international support.
“Work should also be done on a referendum on a new constitution and preparations for elections in 2026,” Ramdin said, reiterating that the core mission of the OAS – democracy, human rights, security and development –remains essential.
He referred to his experience in elections, including in Suriname, and stressed the importance of election observation as a cornerstone of democratic legitimacy. In the digital age, electoral processes must also be resilient to disinformation, cyber threats and manipulation.
Ramdin said new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and social media pose both an opportunity and a threat and that he wants to position the OAS as a partner for digital transformation and economic modernization.
Ramdin said the OAS should help countries bridge digital divides and seize technological opportunities for inclusive growth.
With regards to combating organised crime, drugs and violence, Ramdin warned that they undermine stability in the hemisphere.
He called for strengthening regional cooperation, drug policy reform, and gender- and human rights-sensitive strategies, advocating for evidence-based interventions and capacity building through training and technical assistance.
In his address, Ramdin described migration as a humanitarian tragedy that must be addressed through education, employment and community development.
He said climate change, where the OAS is already involved in sustainable energy projects and climate-resilient infrastructure in the Caribbean, there is also need for serious debate on the Multi Vulnerability Index and the Bridgetown Initiative.
He regards intra-regional trade, nearshoring and economic cooperation as pillars for future-proof growth. The pandemic and global conflicts have shown that the continent needs to become more self-reliant.
Ramdin called for better logistics connectivity, harmonization of rules and building regional value chains. Only through cooperation and shared responsibility can the continent build resilience to global shocks.
