Suriname's Albert Ramdin elected OAS's first Caribbean secretary general

By Ank Kuipers and Sarah Morland

PARAMARIBO (Reuters) -The Organization of American States 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.

(Reporting by Ank Kuipers in Paramaribo, Vivian Sequera in Caracas and Sarah Morland in Mexico CityEditing by Matthew Lewis)