Marks at OAS

Washington, DC (JIS):

Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, last Friday created history when she formally became her country's first female Permanent Representative to the Washington-headquartered Organisation of American States (OAS).

Ambassador Marks, who arrived in the United States capital on May 17, began her accreditation process by presenting her credentials to OAS Secretary General José Miguel during a brief ceremony at the OAS headquarters in downtown Washington.

In her remarks after delivering her letters of accreditation, Ambassador Marks re-assured the Secretary General and the other top diplomats and Members of the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors in attendance, that Jamaica remained fully committed to the OAS Charter and to the organisation's essential purposes. Marks commented that she has greatly admired the work done by the hemispheric organisation over the decades, particularly in the areas of peace, security and prosperity for the Americas. "Thought there are many challenges," she stated, "I see the attitude of the OAS is to look for opportunities in the midst of crisis."

The newly accredited Jamaican Representative to the OAS congratulated Secretary General Insulza and Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin on their recent re-election by the member states to the leadership of the organisation.

The Ambassador also expressed her delight in the opportunity to lead Jamaica's delegation to the upcoming fortieth regular General Assembly session, slated for Lima, Peru, in early June.

"I look forward to committing Jamaica's position of active and constructive dialogue on 'Peace, Security and Co-operation in the Americas,' the theme of this year's General Assembly session.

First duties

Ambassador Marks will execute her first duties as Permanent Representative to the OAS when she occupies Jamaica's seat on Monday, as the Secretary General and the Assistant secretary general are sworn in to begin their new term.

Prior to delivering her accreditation letters, Ambassador Marks held a private meeting with the Secretary General.

Among those attending the ceremony were Ambassador, of St Vincent and the Grenadines Her Excellency La Celia Prince; Ambassador of Guyana His Excellency Bayney Karran; Ambassador of The Bahamas His Excellency Cornelius A. Smith; Ambassador of Belize His Excellency Nestor Mendez; Ambassador of Panama His Excellency Guillermo Cochez; and Alternate Representative of the United States, W. Lewis Anselem.