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OAS Permanent Council Received Reports from the IICA and on the Toronto 2015 Pan-American Games

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) today received reports from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and on the preparations for the Pan-American and Parapan-American Games in Canada, in a regular meeting in which the Council also bid farewell to the Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Prime Minister of the Canadian province of Ontario, Kathleen Wynn, made a presentation on the Pan-American and Parapan-American Games to be held in Toronto from July 10 to 26 and August 8 to 15. The Prime Minister explained the progress made recently in the province to create economic opportunities and called the Games “an opportunity to deepen our fruitful international partnerships” and a great boost for Ontario and a catalyst for its economic, social and infrastructure development.

On another point of the agenda, the Council heard the presentation of the 2014 annual report of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), from its Director Victor Villalobos. Director Villalobos presented what he described as “a vision of the possibilities of the agricultural sector to respond to the demands of the peoples of the Americas.” “In addition to prosperity, they want equality,” said the IICA Director, echoing the central theme of the recent Summit of the Americas in Panama.

In addition, the Council installed a Style Committee for the draft Inter-American Convention on Rights of Older Persons, charged with reviewing the draft resolution in the four languages of the Organization: Panama, in Spanish, Brazil, in Portuguese, Haiti, in French, and Jamaica, in English. The Committee will then present the document to the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs, which will in turn present the document to the Permanent Council.

In closing the session, Council members offered a farewell to the Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jacinth Lorna Henry-Martin, who is leaving her current position to assume shortly as the Chief of Staff of the Secretary General-elect, Luis Almagro. The OAS Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin on behalf of the General Secretariat, acknowledged the work of the Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis and said "we have always valued her perspectives and her willingness to find efficient solutions in the various roles she has played over these years, and we welcome her to the General Secretariat, offering our full support."

In the expressions of tribute the members of the Permanent Council highlighted the recent work of Ambassador Henry-Martin as Chair of the Permanent Council, her leadership, experience, deep knowledge of the region and the institution, her commitment to work for the benefit of all, integrity, dedication and professionalism. Many of the tributes referred to the contribution of Ambassador Henry-Martin in her future role and the fact that she was the first woman appointed as ambassador of her country to the United States and to the OAS.

The representatives of Peru, Mexico, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Venezuela, Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile, The Bahamas, Dominica, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honduras, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Argentina, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, and the Dominican Republic took the floor during the meeting.

A gallery of photos of the event will be available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-180/15