- Statement by Sir Ronald Sanders, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the Permanent Council of the OAS on 19 March 2025
USA / ANTIGUA – Mr chairman; it is an honour for Antigua and Barbuda to be accorded the privilege of hosting the Fifty-Fifth Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS).
At the outset, let me thank all delegations and Member States for the unanimous support and endorsement of our offer to host this important gathering.
Antigua and Barbuda looks forward to welcoming you to St John’s in three months’ time.
We hope that the warmth of our Caribbean atmosphere will foster harmonious discussions, as well as fruitful and positive outcomes for our Hemisphere.
On a lighter note, we trust that a drink of our Antiguan rum – or maybe two or three – may help facilitate convivial discussions!
We thank assistant secretary-general Nestor Mendez and the two teams of officials from the General Secretariat who visited Antigua, discovering the attractiveness of our country while satisfying themselves that our Conference facilities and hotel accommodation are consistent with international standards.
Mr Chairman; with your permission, allow me now to formally introduce for consideration the draft resolution Number CP/Doc. 6068/25/ rev. 1, entitled: “Place, Date, and Theme of The Fifty-Fifth Regular Session of The General Assembly,”
This resolution announces that:
The Fifty-Fifth Regular Session of the General Assembly will be held in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, from June 25 to 27, 2025;
The Resolution also declares that the theme of the Assembly will be “Building Resilient, Inclusive Economies in the Americas.”
We believe this theme resonates with urgent regional concerns, emphasizing the need for resilience and inclusivity as we address the challenges confronting each member state – big and small – and all of them collectively.
By using the term “building” in the theme, we affirm our commitment to sustained, ongoing action.
And the inclusive scope of the theme ensures that all Member States can highlight their specific priorities within a broader collective framework, underscoring our shared dedication to improving the lives of all citizens in the Americas.
Mr chairman; I again express our profound gratitude to this Permanent Council for its continued support and cooperation.
We look forward to welcoming you in June 2025, confident that our discussions will foster stronger ties and deliver meaningful outcomes for our Hemisphere. Thank you, Mr chair.
