may press release banner.GIF (28717 bytes)

(E-107/01)
May 16, 2001

OAS PAYS TRIBUTE TO OUTGOING VINCENTIAN AMBASSADOR

Ambassador Kingsley Layne of St. Vincent and the Grenadines today received a rousing send-off from his colleagues at the hemispheric Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), as he demitted office after more than ten years.

Council Chairman Ambassador Humberto de la Calle of Colombia led the tributes to the long-serving Vincentian envoy, telling him that "this Organization will miss you, given your vast experience in the hemispheric agenda." The Council Chairman made special mention of Layne's negotiations for the Inter-American Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities as Chairman of the Permanent Council itself some time ago.

Jamaica's Ambassador, Dr. Richard Bernal, speaking for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) delegations, hailed the service and distinctions of Layne, who was also Ambassador to the United States as well as Dean of Caribbean Ambassadors in Washington and Dean of Ambassadors to the OAS. He was his country's first resident Ambassador in Washington.

Pointing to Ambassador Layne's multiple representations of his country, in Washington and New York from 1990 to 1994, Ambassador Bernal declared: "That is an enormous task and a remarkable achievement that he could cover the United States--including the Vincentian community-- the OAS and the United Nations, and do justice to all of them."

A number of other Ambassadors joined in with glowing tributes as well, including Ambassador Diego Abente Brun of Paraguay, on behalf of Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) countries; Ambassador Peter Boehm of Canada; Ambassador Margarita Escobar of El Salvador, on behalf of the Central American countries and Panama; Haiti's Alternate Representative Jean Ricot Dorm�us; and U.S. Alternate Representative Ambassador Thomas Shannon.

Lauding the outgoing Ambassador's "sound intellect," OAS Secretary General C�sar thanked him "for all he did for the Organization of American States throughout the years."

In his response, Ambassador Layne thanked his colleagues for the sentiments expressed and thanked the staff of the OAS for their collaboration. He recalled the highlights of his service at the Organization, underscoring such historic OAS-led developments as "the advancement and acceptance of representative democracy."

*******