OAS celebrates 60th anniversary

The Organisation of American States (OAS) – the oldest regional organisation in the western hemisphere – marked its 60th anniversary at an event held on Monday, September 15th, at the Peace Memorial Hall.{{more}}

In his feature address, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves acknowledged that although OAS membership is relatively low, with 34 member states, the organization has some of the most influential countries in the world. Gonsalves cited the USA, Brazil, Canada and Mexico as being such. He further described the OAS as: “an honest broker in the settlements of political disputes, a promoter and protector of human rights and a facilitator of social development.”

Gonsalves congratulated the organization on its excellent work and expressed deep gratitude for the numerous ways in which it has aided the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He made mention of the many scholarships and fellowships that Vincentians have received from the organization, the vital monitoring and training of SVG’s election process and officials, and the important role that the OAS is playing in gaining financial assistance for this island from the Austrian Government – negotiated earlier this year by the Prime Minister.

Director of the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit, Ambassador Ellsworth John, was in agreement that SVG’s membership in the OAS has been of great importance to the island. “SVG has benefited tremendously from the OAS,” he stated. John relayed that member states are required to contribute financially towards ‘technical cooperation’, and SVG pays out US$5,100 per year toward this. In return, the OAS has funded several small to medium sized projects. Some of these projects include the Heritage Development Project, which received over US$500,000, and the Environmental Impact Assessment, which received and injection of approximately US$200,000.

SVG’s OAS Representative Melene Glynn, in her remarks, emphasized that over the past six decades the OAS has worked and collaborated successfully in many areas to improve the standards of living for the next generation. These areas include: democracy, good governance, economic, social and cultural development, security, promotion & protection of human rights and the eradication of extreme poverty. “…the OAS has become one of the most enduring, valuable and socially transformative organizations of its kind,” she declared.

Glynn made mention of several crucial institutions that have arisen out of the OAS; namely, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), Inter-American Institute for Corporation and Agriculture (IICA), Inter-American Commission of Women and Inter-American Children’s Institute. “We must continue to look forward and be flexible if we are to remain relevant in the face of continuously changing needs…” she insisted.

Remarks were also given by IICA Representative for the Eastern Caribbean States Una May Gordon and Patricia Martin, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade.

On April 30th, 1948, 21 countries met in Bogotá, Colombia, to adopt the charter of the OAS. From 1967 – 1991, 14 other countries joined, including SVG which joined in 1981. Events to mark the milestone have included conference, concerts and other commemorative activities at the Washington Headquarters and other member states. (JSV)