Suriname’s Albert Ramdin elected OAS’s  secretary general

Mar 11, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- The Organization of American States (OAS) on Monday elected Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin as its new secretary general through 2030, taking over from Uruguayan diplomat Luis Almagro and marking the body’s first Caribbean leader.

Ramdin has served as Suriname’s top diplomat since 2020, and was previously the OAS’s assistant secretary general for two terms from 2005 through 2015. In a speech to the OAS general assembly in Washington on Monday, Ramdin urged greater regional unity, dialogue, sustainable development and action in the face of climate change, which is disproportionately affecting debt-laden Caribbean nations exposed to worsening natural disasters.

“Let’s join hands and mobilize our capabilities,” he said. “I hope you’re on the same path with me, to take things forwards not backwards, united not divided.”

The diplomat said he would look to deepen cooperation between the Americas’ subregions and highlighted that the climate crisis “has to be properly addressed, not only in development agencies but also in political discourse.”

His election comes as the United States sends shock waves through the region with a cascade of tariff announcements, the dismantling of its foreign aid agency and mass deportations of migrants to third countries in Latin America. The world’s No. 2 greenhouse gas emitter, the United States has also slashed climate action and regulations.

Caribbean diplomats hailed Ramdin’s election as the OAS’s first leader from the region and expressed hope that his appointment would boost diversity and representation for smaller nations in the Caribbean. Though Suriname is located on the South American continent, it has closer diplomatic ties to the Caribbean Community intergovernmental organization.

Suriname’s president, Chan Santokhi, has praised Ramdin’s “calm assurance” as a trusted adviser and adept diplomat. The country has opposed Washington’s sanctions against Venezuela and supported neighboring Guyana in a territorial dispute with Venezuela over the border region of Esequibo. Venezuela’s government in 2017 said it would begin a process to leave the OAS, but the body has since recognized representatives from the country’s political opposition. It currently has no representative at the Washington-based OAS.

The OAS’s current chief, Almagro, congratulated Ramdin and pledged a smooth transition when Ramdin takes up the role on May 25, the same day Suriname will hold a national election. “Few people come to this job so well prepared and aware of the challenges and responsibilities,” Almagro said.

Meanwhile, the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of Caricom has warmly congratulated Ramdin on his historic election.  In a statement, COFCOR said this landmark election marks the first time a representative from a CARICOM Member State has been elected as Secretary-General of the OAS. “COFCOR is of the view that Mr. Ramdin’s election reflects the confidence of Member States in his abilities. The Council expressed confidence that with a career distinguished by extensive experience in foreign policy and diplomacy, including a previous tenure as OAS Assistant Secretary-General, he is well-equipped to guide the organisation in addressing critical issues such as peace, security, socio-economic development, democracy, and good governance across the hemisphere.”  The council added: “The Caribbean Community is confident that Minister Ramdin will serve in his new role with distinction, upholding the OAS Charter and demonstrating the necessary expertise to navigate regional challenges, thereby contributing to the shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous hemisphere,” COFCOR stated.

Ramdin was born in Suriname District and went to secondary school in the capital city of Paramaribo. After completing secondary school, he left for the Netherlands where he studied social geography at the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In 1991, Ramdin became the Director of the HIMOS Development Agency in Oegstgeest, Netherlands.[5] In 1997, Ramdin was appointed the Permanent Representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) for Suriname. In 1999, he became assistant general for external relations at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In 2001, Ramdin became adviser to the Secretary General of the OAS. On 7 June 2005, Ramdin was elected Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and took office on 19 July 2005. In July 2015, he returned to Suriname where he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In August 2015, approximately a month after his return to Suriname, he was appointed by Minister Niermala Badrising as Ambassador at Large. In May 2016, Ramdin started working for the American gold mining company Newmont Corporation. On 16 July 2020, Ramdin became Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation in the cabinet of Santokhi. (REUTERS)

(Suriname’s Albert Ramdin elected OAS’s  secretary general)

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• Caribbean leader, greenhouse gas emitter, Organization of American States, United States, urinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin

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