On March 10, 2025, Albert Ramdin was elected as the new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS). The election took place at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. Ramdin, who is from Suriname, will serve a five-year term, succeeding Luis Almagro of Uruguay.
Key Points:
- Election: Albert Ramdin was elected as the new OAS Secretary General on March 10, 2025. As the only candidate, Ramdin was elected by acclamation.
- Term: Ramdin’s term will run from 2025 to 2030. He will officially take office in May 2025.
- Predecessor: Ramdin succeeds Luis Almagro, who served two terms as Secretary General.
- Support: Ramdin’s candidacy was supported by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which has 14 votes in the OAS. He also gained backing from countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.
- Experience: Ramdin previously served as the OAS Assistant Secretary-General from 2005 to 2015.
- Haiti’s Role: Haiti participated in the election through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste.
- Challenges: Many countries have identified Haiti as one of the significant challenges facing the region. Haiti has been facing a multidimensional crisis characterized by political deadlock, violence, and dire humanitarian conditions. Criminal gangs have caused widespread displacement and food insecurity, while sexual violence has escalated.