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WASHINGTON, D.C., April 3, 2024 – His Excellency Chet D. Neymour, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the Organization of American States (OAS), today assumed the chairmanship of the OAS Permanent Council, a position that he will hold until June 30, 2024.
During the ceremony that took place at the main headquarters of the hemispheric Organization in Washington, DC, Ambassador Neymour reaffirmed The Bahamas’ commitment to multilateralism, to the OAS and the obligation of the Council to act accordingly, with clear strategy and collective resolve.
“While I may be the individual receiving the ceremonial gavel, I am certainly not an individual at all,” Ambassador Neymour said. “Invariably, I carry with me the indomitable spirit of every Bahamian in our Commonwealth because it is they whom I represent. I am the vessel to execute the charge of the Government and people of The Bahamas.”
Following the handover ceremony, Ambassador Neymour led the first Regular Permanent Council Meeting of its Chairmanship. Opening the meeting and The Bahamas’ Chairmanship, a video from the Hon. Frederick Mitchell, Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs, was played for Member States.
In his remarks, Minister Mitchell reiterated The Bahamas’ commitment to collaboration and active engagement with Member States, and the purposes of the OAS with its four pillars of work of integral development, multidimensional security, human rights, and democracy. He outlined the priority areas that The Bahamas will pursue during its tenure, including:
- the promotion of climate action;
- reform of the international financial architecture;
- support concrete action in Haiti through the OAS
Ambassador Neymour followed the remarks of Minister Mitchell with his own remarks, in which he noted that The Bahamas will be guided by the principles of collective responsibility for solving common challenges, for maintenance of the Americas as a zone of peace, nondiscrimination and reciprocity of commitments by Member States.
He reconfirmed the Minister’s statement that The Bahamas looks forward to collaborating with Member States during its tenure and leading an effective General Committee of the General Assembly.
On the agenda were items relating to a resolution on the “Support for a democratic transition in Haiti,” a resolution on the “Follow-up on the situation in Nicaragua,” and the Commemoration of the Inter-American Day against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms.
The draft resolution, “Support for Democratic Transition in Haiti”, was approved by acclamation at the session. During its remarks, The Bahamas reiterated its support for a Haitian-led political process that permits free and fair elections with the full participation of civil society. The Bahamas urged the OAS to remain seized of the situation in Haiti to find concrete ways to leverage the comparative advantages of the OAS to advance the work of ameliorating the situation in Haiti.
Some components of the resolution resolves to call on the international community to continue supporting Haiti in its democratic transition, redouble efforts to promote institutional, social and economic development of Haiti, and welcome the decision to establish a transitional council.
The OAS formed a Working Group on Haiti in February 2023. The group is currently chaired by the Permanent Representative of the United States. The Bahamas is a member of the Working Group and sits on the security cluster.
