WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, April 19th, The Organization of American States (OAS) celebrated the eighth annual “Spirit of the Americas,” a festival that celebrates Caribbean culture, with food and liquor typical of this region of the hemisphere, during a ceremony attended by diplomatic representatives from across the region, in the Hall of the Americas of the organization’s headquarters in Washington, DC.
“Initially this party was basically a celebration of the Caribbean, but today it is a celebration of all countries in the Americas, and we are very proud of this,” said the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza.
“We believe it is very important to the community of the Americas to maintain unity, we have seen divisions, arguments and problems, but the main task is to be brothers and work together,” added Secretary General Insulza.
From left to right: José Miguel Insulza, OAS Secretary General, Albert R. Ramdin, OAS Assistant Secretary General and Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
(Photo credit: Juan Manuel Herrera/OAS)
The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, called for cooperation among member countries because “it is very clear that we can move forward together,” and the OAS represents a place where we can “work together for a better quality of life.” “May God bless each of you, may God bless your families, may God bless the great nations from which you come,” added Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, whose country took a very active role in the eighth edition the “Spirit of the Americas.”
The Secretary General of the OAS, Albert Ramdin, said that “the spirit of the Americas is about brotherhood and getting to know each other through drink, food and culture.” Ambassador Ramdin said the funds raised at the event will be donated to a hospital located near Cité Soleil, one of Haiti’s major urban centers.
For his part, the President of the Rum Industry of Guatemala, Roberto Garcia, who spoke on behalf of several entrepreneurs who received awards at the ceremony, said that “these events promote the culture of our countries and allow for good relations between us, so we can develop more every day.”
“We are very happy as Guatemalans because we are on the threshold of the OAS General Assembly to be held in June in our country,” said the Guatemalan businessman. During the event, several traditional Caribbean and Guatemalan dance groups took part.
