Secretary of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, is congratulating Antigua and Barbuda for serving as host of the 55th General Assembly of the organization this week.
SG Ramdin said Antigua and Barbuda has demonstrated its capacity to host major conferences with the successful hosting of the 4th Conference of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) 4 last year and therefore the OAS is ‘very proud of Antigua and Barbuda’.
“This is an important moment to have this meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. I expect three things to emerge from the meeting. Firstly, we will present our plans to make the OAS more relevant and a more recognized organization whether in terms of multilateralism and Antigua and Barbuda has played a role in organizing this important role. Secondly, we wish to focus on the critical issues that are playing out in the hemisphere such as democracy and human rights issues and I hope that Antigua and Barbuda will provide a forward looking agenda,” he stated.
With the highest body in the hemisphere, the Summit of the Americas meeting in Dominican Republic in a few months, SG Ramdin is hoping that the Antigua and Barbuda meeting sets the tone for the discussions that will take place at that gathering.
On the call by Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated intention to move a resolution at the General Assembly focusing on the issue of mental health for the June 25-27 meeting agenda, SG Ramdin noted that while health issues are dealt with by the Pan American Health Orgnisation, the issue is of concern for the entire hemisphere.
“Mental health in many countries is indeed and issue that requires the fullest attention of the political authorities as well as medical authorities and I hope that at this meeting decisions will be taken to at least start the process of how to deal with this matter,” he declared.
Antigua and Barbuda is creating history by hosting the OAS General Assembly. It will take place at the American University of Antigua Conference Centre.
