Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Assumes Chair of the Permanent Council of the OAS for the Period July – September 2022
On Friday, 1 July 2022, Ambassador Lou-Anne Gilchrist, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the Organization of American States (OAS) assumed the chair of the Permanent Council of the OAS.
Ambassador Lou-Anne Gilchrist
This was done at a virtual handing over ceremony hosted by the Secretary General of the OAS, Mr. Luis Almagro, and attended by the other Permanent Representatives, alternates, Permanent Observers and staff of the OAS Secretariat.
In her remarks, Ambassador Gilchrist thanked and congratulated outgoing chair, Ambassador Elizabeth Darius-Clarke of Saint Lucia, for her astute and exemplary chairmanship of the Permanent Council, which included advancing discussions on important themes such as building resilience in the region.
Acknowledging the multi-dimensional and existential threats to lives, livelihoods and sustainable development, Ambassador Gilchrist stated that as chair of the Permanent Council of the OAS, she proposes to advance further the theme of resilience-building with the objective of maintaining the discourse to lead to the elaboration of strategies for the implementation of specific, measurable actions aimed at the enhancement of the economic, environmental and social resilience of the region. This will build on the focus of the two previous chairs who are also members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
To assist with the above, the five (5) strategic goals articulated in the National Economic and Social Development plan 2013 to 2025 of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with its aim of re-engineering economic growth and improving the quality of life for all Vincentians, will be contemplated since the challenges to be addressed are not unique to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines but are encountered in the region.
As part of the solution, the Ambassador noted that the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines recommends the development of a multidimensional vulnerability index as a tool for properly assessing and evaluating the challenges in the region with a view of having them addressed.
The chairmanship will take place during the negotiations leading up to the 52nd Regular Session of the General Assembly. The chair therefore entreated delegations to negotiate in good faith with respect for others’ opinions, postures and the principles of their domestic law as agreements are sought and consensus is built.
Ambassador Gilchrist will serve as chair for the period July 1st to September 30th, 2022. The vice chair will be Ambassador Josue Fiallo, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic.
The chair of the Permanent Council of the OAS rotates among Permanent Representatives on a three-month basis, in alphabetical order according to the name of the member states, which they represent.
SOURCE: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
