WASHINGTON, DC, USA — Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie has concluded his three-month chairmanship of the OAS Permanent Council.

Vasciannie, who handed over the chairmanship at a ceremony Monday at the OAS’s headquarters here to Ambassador Joel Antonio Hernández García of Mexico, described his term at the helm of the hemispheric organisation’s second highest decision-making body as “an interesting but challenging time”.

He said that during the period, which began upon his arrival in Washington in July, the Permanent Council had to grapple with very challenging issues such as events in Paraguay and Ecuador. “But we have confirmed that the OAS is a united body that is ready to tackle its difficulties with the interests of the hemisphere in mind”, he said.

Professor Vasciannie, who is also ambassador to the United States, said that during the period member states also examined measures to bolster the inter-American human rights system, as well as the OAS budget.

The incoming council chairman praised the Jamaican envoy’s stewardship, noting how well he had done, having assumed the chairmanship just a few days after arriving in Washington.

— JIS