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FIGHTING POVERTY IN HEMISPHERE A COMMITMENT
OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL UNDERSCORES AT IICA MEETING

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador—Organization of American States (OAS) Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin, addressing the hemisphere’s agriculture ministers and experts in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Monday evening, reaffirmed the commitment of the hemispheric body to reducing rural poverty by promoting citizens’ productivity through consistent, sustainable development-oriented job-creation.

Ecuador’s Vice President Alfredo Serrano, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Director General Dr. Chelston Brathwaite and Ecuador’s Minister of Agriculture Pablo Rizzo Pastor also addressed the opening session of the Third Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Rural Life in the Americas. The two-day meeting has brought together agriculture ministers and representatives from the OAS’ 34 member states, as part of the Summit of the Americas process. The agenda also features the thirteenth regular meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture.

“The new OAS leadership believes that we can build a hemisphere that is characterized by prosperity, stability and solidarity,” declared Ramdin, stressing the need for political will and commitment to work toward hemispheric objectives of eliminating poverty, and giving equal rights and opportunity to those who are marginalized. He urged the hemisphere’s nations to “use their national assets to collectively fight against poverty, illiteracy, inequality and social injustice.”

Assistant Secretary General Ramdin also praised the leadership that Chelston Brathwaite of Barbados has provided IICA, saying Dr. Brathwaite “has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities in putting to task his academic agricultural knowledge and managerial skills, in transforming IICA into an effective hemispheric agricultural body.” He lauded IICA’s vision of promoting the sustainable development of agriculture, food security and the prosperity of rural communities in the Americas as a practical response to some of the most pressing development needs in our Hemisphere. “In our view, agriculture will continue to be one of the key strategic pillars in fighting poverty, creating employment, safeguarding social stability, and providing citizens with a tangible stake in the development of their local communities and their countries.”

Commenting on threats to democracies and challenges facing some countries of the Americas, Ramdin told the ministers and the other delegates that “Ecuador, like many countries, faces its own challenges in this regard.” The Surinamese diplomat urged Ecuadorians to continue constructive dialogue, as he called for a renewed commitment on the part of the Executive and Legislative Branches as well as all other political, economic and social forces to work together to address important issues in their country.

Reference: E-180/05