WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jose Miguel Insulza, is currently on an official visit to Jamaica. The March 17 to 19 2009 visit, which comes at the invitation of the Government of Jamaica, is intended to solidify the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the OAS and Jamaica.
During his stay in that CARICOM country, Secretary General Insulza will meet with, among others, the Honorable Prime Minister Bruce Golding, the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr. Kenneth Baugh and the Honorable Minister of National Security Senator Trevor MacMillan. The Secretary General is also expected to pay a courtesy call on Jamaica’s new Governor General (Head of State) His Excellency the Most Honorable Dr. Patrick Allen. He will also have an interaction with the Principal of the UWI Mona Campus, Professor Gordon Shirley, who was Jamaica’s previous Ambassador to the OAS.
Commenting on the visit, Secretary General Insulza noted that this would be his second time in Jamaica as head of the inter-American system and that the visit is “taking place on the eve of the most important hemispheric gathering, the Fifth Summit of the Americas,” which, for the very first time, will be held in a Caribbean nation, Trinidad and Tobago, from April 17 to 19.
Accordingly, the Secretary General underscored that the visit would allow him the opportunity to dialogue with authorities on issues that will constitute the hemispheric agenda in the coming months, ranging from the impact of the global financial crisis on the Hemisphere and the need for a collective and effective response, to human prosperity, energy security and environmental sustainability.
The Secretary General returns to OAS Headquarters on Thursday, March 19.
