SURINAME CLINCHES CARICOM'S SUPPORT FOR ITS

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000523

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DEPT FOR WHA/CAR -- MSEIBELE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC NS OAS
SUBJECT: SURINAME CLINCHES CARICOM'S SUPPORT FOR ITS
CANDIDATE FOR OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL

REF: PARAMARIBO 735


1. During their July 5-8 meeting in Grenada, CARICOM heads
of state endorsed the nomination of Surinamese diplomat
Albert Ramdin for the position of Assistant Secretary
General of the Organization of the American States. Ramdin
is currently the Caribbean Affairs Advisor to OAS Secretary
General Cesar Gaviria. Previously, he served as CARICOM's
Assistant Secretary General, as Suriname's Ambassador to the
OAS, and as its non-resident Ambassador to Costa Rica.
Ramdin told the local daily "De Ware Tijd" (DWT) that, if
elected, his goal is to make the OAS stronger by
strengthening democracies and by promoting good governance
and sustainable development.


2. Upon his return from the CARICOM meeting, President
Ronald Venetiaan declared that Suriname will work hard to
secure enough support for Ramdin's candidacy in elections to
be held during the next OAS General meeting in June 2005 in
Ft. Lauderdale. When asked for her reactions to the news,
Nalini Sewpersadsing, the MFA's International Organizations
Deputy Director, told the Embassy that she hopes that the
Central American countries would support Suriname's nominee.
She confirmed that, at this early juncture, Ramdin is the
only declared candidate for the Assistant Secretary General
position. However, Sewpersadsingh noted that Paraguay may
also submit a nomination. Notably, Venetiaan's personal
secretary Hesdy Pigot told the Embassy he had heard about

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the U.S.'s lack of enthusiasm for Ramdin's candidacy but he
declined to comment further on the matter.

BARNES


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