BRASILIA, Brazil, (U.S. Newswire) — The candidate from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the post of Assistant Secretary General at the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin participated in the first meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Community of South American Nations April 18-19.

The meeting included the Foreign Ministers and Vice-Ministers of all South American countries. Ambassador Ramdin met representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela, to exchange views on the upcoming elections in the OAS.

He raised concerns about the continuing social and economic problems confronting South America and the instability this brings to societies and political systems, and possibly the damage it has on the proper functioning of democracy and democratic institutions.

In his discussions on the challenges the organisation is facing, Ambassador Ramdin underscored the importance of the OAS as the main hemispheric platform for multilateral debate on many issues, especially in terms of strengthening democracy and giving political momentum to tackling major social and economic problems in the Western Hemisphere including the battle against HIV/AIDS, illegal drug trafficking, social injustice and income inequality.

Ambassador Ramdin stressed the need for institutional stability, in which the election of a new Secretary General is critical as well as to resolve the financial problems of the OAS.

“What we need is a leadership that has broad representation, that can unite and mobilise political and financial resources and that can regain the stature and integrity of the OAS as a significant and effective hemispheric body”, he said.

Following his visit to Brasilia, Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin is at a strategic planning session of the United States House of Representatives Congressional Caribbean Caucus, organised by the Inter-American Economic Council from 22-24 April in Miami, Florida USA.

He is also scheduled to deliver closing remarks, upon invitation of the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy of the OAS, at the first Caribbean Meeting of the Inter-American Forum on Political Parties, which will be held from April 27-29 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Ramdin is the Special Adviser to the Government of Suriname on Western Hemispheric Affairs. The South American diplomat most recently served as Advisor to OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria.

His previous positions include Senior Adviser to the Minister of Trade and Industry of Suriname, Policy Adviser to the Foreign Minister of Suriname, Assistant Secretary General for Foreign and Community Relations at the Caribbean Community Secretariat, Permanent Representative of Suriname to the OAS and non- resident Ambassador of Suriname to Cost Rica.

He has chaired the OAS Permanent Council and the Inter-American Council for Integral Development.