Surinamese diplomat Albert Ramdin was elected Monday as the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the 2025-2030 term. Ramdin, who took over from Uruguayan diplomat Luis Almagro, is the organization’s first Caribbean leader.

After being elected by acclamation, Ramdin gave a speech requesting the OAS tackle the climate crisis and push for human rights, gender equality, and social justice.

“We exist in challenging times, a constantly and rapidly changing world, and as we face the challenges of the present and look towards the future, I believe that it is imperative that we listen to each other, understand our different perspectives, if possible accept those while looking forward and finding common ground,” he said.

Randim had been the OAS’ Assistant Secretary General from 2005 to 2015. In 2020, he became Surinam’s Foreign Minister under the government of the center-left Progressive Reform Party.

He said he would strive for “aspirations of integral development, multidimensional security in our communities, governments based on the rule of law and democratic principles and respect for human rights.” “The benefits of progress are to be shared by all, leaving no one behind,” Ramdin added.

Randim is to succeed Almagro, who had a controversial term as the head of the OAS, which started in 2015. He led a 2019 electoral observation mission in Bolivia’s presidential election, allegedly detecting irregularities. That vote ended with the reelection of leftist leader Evo Morales, but then a coup prevented him from taking office.

In 2020, Almagro met with far-right leader Santiago Abascal and discussed the creation of an anti-leftist organization, the Madrid Forum. In 2022, it was revealed that he had engaged in a romantic relationship with an OAS employee who served as his advisor, but an independent investigation concluded that he “did not engage in serious misconduct.”