PANAMA / ANTIGUA — Sir Ronald Sanders, head of delegation and ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda, delivered a principled and forward-looking statement at the 56th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama City, Panama, reaffirming his country’s unwavering commitment to the Organization and calling for collective action on Haiti, institutional reform, and the defence of multilateralism.
The OAS is indispensable
Sir Ronald opened by declaring that the OAS “remains essential to our Hemisphere” — the only institution where almost all independent states of the Americas meet regularly for dialogue, cooperation, and collective action.
“There is no substitute for it,” he said.
With multilateralism under strain globally and unilateral action increasingly chosen over collective solutions, Sir Ronald reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to OAS Charter principles:
“We will continue to support this Organization in practice, by applying its rules consistently, safeguarding its independence, and ensuring that it serves all member states fairly.”
Independence, accountability, and reform
Sir Ronald stressed that the independence of the secretary general and the OAS Secretariat is “a fundamental principle of the Charter, essential to the institutional balance of the Organization.” Accountability, he said, is equally essential — but must be exercised through established mechanisms and in accordance with Charter procedures and the collective decisions of member states.
On reform, he was unambiguous: “Reform must strengthen the Organization as a whole and proceed through the procedures established collectively and jointly by member states.” The goal is a stronger OAS, not a weakened one.
Haiti: Act together, hold all accountable
Turning to Haiti, Sir Ronald called the levels of violence and insecurity facing its people “unacceptable,” with women and girls remaining “at grave risk.” Antigua and Barbuda expressed full support for the United Nations-authorized Gang Suppression Force, noting that the Haitian authorities themselves have requested international assistance.
Related: Gang suppression force tells Haitians ‘they are not alone’, Security Council hears
He called on the countries of the Americas to act in a coordinated manner against transnational criminal networks operating in Haiti. Drug trafficking, illicit financial flows, and the movement of weapons and criminal actors must be disrupted and stopped. He urged that those who finance and support gang activity be identified, sanctioned, and prosecuted “wherever they operate — inside or outside of Haiti.”
“We must act together to restore security and democratic governance, in the interest of Haiti and of the hemisphere as a whole,” he said.
The right choice
Sir Ronald closed by calling for an OAS that is “strong, independent, properly resourced, and representative of all the peoples of the Americas.
” The permanent forum for dialogue the Organization provides — “a rules-based space where governments engage with mutual respect, even in disagreement” — must be strengthened, not weakened. “We believe this is the right choice,” he concluded.
