Amb Anderson makes presentation at OAS General Assembly

WASHINGTON DC.

Ambassador Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson delivered Jamaica’s National Statement at the historic 55th Regular Session of the Organization of American States (OAS) held June 25-27 in St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda, under the theme “ Building Resilient and Inclusive Economies in the Americas.”

Speaking on behalf of Foreign Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, the Ambassador said that for Jamaica, “building resilience is not just a policy aspiration but our lived reality”.

He described the country’s economic transformation in the last decade as “remarkable” and underscored the importance of sustained reforms in strengthening regional stability and building more resilient and inclusive economies across the Americas.

Ambassador Anderson also highlighted Jamaica’s shift from a debt-burdened economy to a regional success story, pointing to debt-to-GDP ratio now at 68.7 per cent, down from over 140 per cent, and a record-low unemployment of 3.5 per cent.

“Jamaica’s economic recovery marks a significant shift after decades of stagnation. In recent years, we have reduced public debt and expanded our productive base across sectors including tourism, agriculture, logistics, creative industries and digital services”, the Ambassador further explained.

Despite this progress, Ambassador Anderson noted that economic gains remain vulnerable to climate-related shocks. “Every year from June to November, Jamaicans live with the fear that hard-won socio-economic gains could be eliminated with the passage of one severe storm”, he said while calling for increased climate financing as well as transboundary cooperation in adaptation to climate change.

SHARED VISION

The ambassador also reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to inclusive development, pointing to national policies focused on empowering youth, women and girls, rural communities and persons with disabilities. “Growth that leaves behind large segments of our societies is neither just nor sustainable”, he said as he made the link between social inclusion and economic growth.

Addressing the situation in Haiti, the Ambassador reiterated Jamaica’s commitment to the restoration of peace, stability and democratic governance in the neighbouring French-speaking territory.

He noted that more than one million Haitians are now internally displaced, with nearly 60,000 newly displaced in recent weeks. Ambassador Anderson said that in response, Jamaica has already deployed a 25-member contingent from the armed forces as part of the Caribbean Community Joint Task Force supporting the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS). This is particularly important as the Government of Jamaica assumes chairmanship of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as of July 1.

“We owe it to present and future generations to act decisively,” Anderson said, calling for greater support to address the multidimensional crisis in Haiti, along with broader challenges posed by transnational organised crime, including the trafficking of firearms in exchange for food and drugs.

Anderson stated that now more than ever, the Organization of American States is needed to secure peace and justice, promote solidarity, strengthen collaboration, and defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its member states. Jamaica, he said remains committed to working constructively with member states to realise our shared vision for the advancement of the hemisphere.

The three-day assembly in Antigua marks the first time in over two decades that the OAS General Assembly has been held in the Caribbean. It is also the first General Assembly under Secretary-General Albert Ramdin, the first CARICOM national to hold the position since the inception of the Organization over 70 years ago.

Ambassador Anderson was accredited to OAS on June 18, 2025.