Below is the full address by Ambassador Audrey Marks Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Organisation of American States, to the Permanaent Council. She made her presentation in Washington DC on June 22, 2010.

IT is my distinct honour and pleasure to address the Permanent Council for the first time since taking office in Washington, having presented my credentials to the Secretary General on May 21.

Mr Chairman, last year marked the fortieth anniversary of Jamaica’s membership to the OAS. Since then, there have been significant changes in the geo-political structure of our society due to rapid and radical changes in the global environment. New threats have emerged and equally too have new opportunities. As a result of the similarities in our problems and concerns, as well as our individual interest in benefiting from the available opportunities, we can conclude that we all have an equally vital role to play in ensuring the success or failure of this important hemispheric organisation.

The OAS was envisaged as the primary political forum in the hemisphere to preserve and consolidate democracy, protect human rights, promote multi-dimensional security and advance integral development in the region. Despite the various new and emerging challenges and threats it has had to face, there is no doubt that the OAS remains at the forefront of multilateral efforts to advance cooperation in these areas.

The role that the OAS has played in conflict resolution for example, cannot be understated, and while the outcome of some mediation efforts in political crises have proven controversial, the involvement of the OAS has nevertheless, brought to the fore, the positive results that can be attained with collective interest, dialogue and action.

Over the years, the OAS has been actively engaged in efforts to resolve crises in various countries in our region and provide technical assistance in response to the varied needs and interests of Member States. More recently, the OAS was instrumental in providing wellneeded support to Haiti following the catastrophic earthquake which took place earlier this year, and the Organization continues to play an active role in ensuring the reconstruction and rehabilitation of that country.

As members of the Permanent Council will recall from the presentation made by Special Representative for CARICOM, the Most Honourable PJ Patterson, during the special meeting of the Council held last April, CARICOM also intends to provide continuous support to our sister nation, Haiti and to play a strong and significant role in the redevelopment exercise.

Mr Chairman, Jamaica values greatly the excellent relationship it shares with the OAS. This important relationship has been enhanced over the years by Jamaica’s participation at ministerial and high-level meetings in the areas of Labour, Education, Sustainable Development, Social Development, Culture, Science and Technology and Local Government, the hosting of various OAS workshops in our country, as well as various visits of the Secretary General to Jamaica.

Jamaica continues to attach great importance to the development agenda of the OAS and particularly to meeting the needs of small states such as eradicating poverty and human resource development. For this reason, I wish to underscore the importance of the OAS technical cooperation programme, particularly through the FEMCIDI process, which has provided support in the areas of education, social development, tourism, natural disaster reduction, among others, as well as the invaluable scholarship and training programmes.

The timely completion of the Social Charter of the Americas and its Plan of Action remains a high priority for Jamaica, as we strive to accord the appropriate balance between the Organization’s political mandates and its economic and social agenda.

Mr Chairman, bearing in mind that security threats can no longer be viewed only in terms of armed conflict, Jamaica has strongly supported the position that the OAS must address security issues from a multidimensional perspective, encompassing economic, social, health and environmental issues which can affect the security and stability of a state. Jamaica has also had significant collaboration with the OAS in the area of security cooperation.

In this regard, as my delegation affirmed in the Dialogue on Peace, Security and Cooperation during the General Assembly in Lima, the security operation underway in Jamaica is the beginning of a concerted effort to dismantle the aggressive criminal networks, and we remain appreciative of the expressions of support and solidarity received from the OAS through Secretary General Insulza and from the Member States. The operation is still continuing and the security forces have been able to stabilise the area in Western Kingston such that residents are once again able to go about their business subject, of necessity, to random security checks. The area will, at the appropriate time, transition to normal community policing mode.

However, as our Honourable Prime Minister stated in an address to Parliament, “the events leading up to the state of emergency may well provide a catharsis, a compelling opportunity for us to move boldly to tackle the scourge of organised crime and ‘gangsterism’ that has reached endemic proportions. It is an opportunity that must not be allowed to pass.”

Therefore, the inextricable linkage between security and development requires us to intensify and indeed transform our programmes that provide economic and social opportunities, particularly in vulnerable communities, to ensure social cohesion and community strengthening. Law enforcement efforts alone will not suffice.

The importance of cooperation in these areas, at the bilateral, regional and international levels, cannot be overstated, and we therefore look forward to collaborating with all our partners and with the OAS, to identify ways in which our country, and others who share these concerns, can benefit from tangible support.

I also wish to use this opportunity to reaffirm that Jamaica takes very seriously the issues of democracy, human rights and respect for the rule of law. Jamaica also places high importance on the safety and security of the country and all its citizens and will not abdicate its responsibility to apprehend disruptive and destabilising criminal elements and drug traffickers.

Finally Mr Chairman, I wish to reiterate Jamaica’s full support for the Summit of the Americas process, and welcome the introduction of the new follow-up mechanism to ensure implementation of the mandates emanating from the process. We pledge our full support to the Government of Colombia in the preparations for the Sixth Summit to be held in Cartagena in 2012.

May I also reaffirm our commitment to the priorities of the Organization and inform that I will, through constructive dialogue, continue to ensure that the relationship remains strong and mutually beneficial. I look forward to participating in future meetings of the Permanent Council and its Committees and in actively engaging in discussions on the hemispheric agenda.

Indeed, Mr Chairman, my experience at the General Assembly in Lima augurs well for my future participation in the various OAS fora, as my delegation was extremely pleased with the arrangements which were put in place to enable us to have a successful meeting. So, please allow me to congratulate and thank the Ambassador of Peru and his delegation as well as the Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General and the Secretariat staff for their respective contributions to that end.