On February 10, 2025, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname, Albert Ramdin, for a private roundtable in which he shared his vision for his candidacy to become the next secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS). Ramdin, one of two officially announced candidates in the March 10 election, emphasized the need for the institution to regain relevance at this critical moment for the region. To achieve this, he stated that the OAS must reaffirm its commitment to member states and their priorities, enhance efficiency within its operational structure, and invest in more active collaboration with key actors in the inter-American ecosystem.
Minister Ramdin insisted that institutional reform will be imperative to addressing the most pressing issues facing the region, including heightened polarization and instability. He highlighted the crises in Haiti and Venezuela, the impact of climate change, human displacement, transnational organized crime, and inequality as chief concerns at the core of his agenda. For all these challenges, he asserted, the core values of the OAS remain as crucial as ever.
Minister Ramdin outlined three key areas in his reform strategy: member state engagement, internal restructuring, and functional collaboration with inter-American actors and the private sector. First and foremost, if the OAS is to remain a relevant actor, member states must be in the driver’s seat when defining policy priorities, Ramdin argued. He pointed to strengthening state institutions, bolstering judicial independence, and promoting democratic values as areas in which the OAS must support its members. Secondly, in consultation with member states, Ramdin believes it is essential to streamline the institution’s operations and pare down its current structure. Specifically, he stressed the need to ensure that the institution’s secretariats and programs align with member states’ priorities. Thirdly, Ramdin noted that the OAS is part of an ecosystem that includes development agencies, civil society, and private sector actors working toward similar goals. He stated that he would prioritize building ties with these actors to scale the impact and reach of OAS initiatives.
Throughout the discussion, Ramdin emphasized the importance of increasing and mobilizing resources—not only financial but also institutional. He noted that a key priority would be improving how the OAS promotes and showcases its achievements as a means to gain greater support, trust, and investment.
If elected, Minister Ramdin would become the first-ever secretary general from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)—a milestone he described as an opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the region that the fourteen Caribbean member states are key players who embody the core values of the OAS. Additionally, he underscored the strategic importance of engaging CARICOM, as well as the United States, in the institution’s work in the coming term.
This event was by invitation only.
