Jamaica’s Audrey Marks to chair OAS Permanent Council

Audrey Marks, Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), has been assigned as the chair of the OAS Permanent Council until September 30 of this year.

Carlos Quesada, Honduras’ Permanent Representative, is slated to serve as vice chair of the council for the duration of the July-September period.

During the Monday handover ceremony held at the OAS headquarters in Washington, Marks shared her vision for constructive chairmanship.

She expressed that she looks forward to a “very productive chairmanship that will result in tangible and fruitful outcomes for the benefit of our hemisphere.”

She pointed out that the OAS General Assembly in June served as a potent reminder of the inescapable connections between human rights, democracy, and sustainable development.

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Audrey Marks highlights persistent hurdles in the Caribbean

Marks also highlighted the persistent challenges in the region, particularly in the Caribbean.

These include food and energy insecurity, an onslaught of non-communicable diseases, and hindrances to democratic governance and development agendas, all of which are continually threatened by crime and violence.

As such, she underscored the growing importance of multilateral mechanisms like the OAS Permanent Council, stating, they “have an even greater role to play, as it allows the further deepening of our engagement, in our efforts to collectively address these challenges plaguing our region.”

The rotational system of OAS Permanent Council leadership

Jamaica claimed the council's chairmanship from Uruguay. Previously, Uruguay's Permanent Representative, Washington Abdala, held the position from March to June.

The OAS informs that the Chair of the Permanent Council rotates every three months among member states of the hemispheric body, following alphabetical order.

The vice chair position also undergoes a similar rotation every three months, though in reverse alphabetical order.