Antigua's Ambassador to OAS Calls for Stronger Development Cooperation Among Member States
Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) and Chair of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), has advocated for enhanced development cooperation between OAS member states and its Permanent Observers. During a special meeting, attended by OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin and representatives from 32 active OAS member states and Permanent Observers including the European Union, China, and Japan, Sir Ronald emphasized that development should be considered the foundation of the inter-American system, not a secondary concern. He argued that human rights, democracy, and security are undermined when development is inadequate, citing issues such as food insecurity, lack of healthcare access, limited educational opportunities, and fragile security due to economic exclusion. He also connected inadequate development to migration pressures, stating that migration often begins where hope and opportunity have ceased. Sir Ronald acknowledged t...
