H.E Roberto Álvarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominican Republic, Chair of the SIRG
H.E Albert Ramdin, Secretary General of the OAS
The Hon. E.P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda
Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Heads of Delegation
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of my delegation, I would like to express gratitude to the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda for hosting this first meeting of the Summit Implementation Review Group for 2025.
I also wish to thank you, Mr. Chairman and the Government and people of the Dominican Republic for the sterling efforts you are expending to bring the Americas together to focus on our shared challenges.
The theme for the 10th Summit of the Americas, “Building a Secure and Sustainable Hemisphere with Shared Prosperity,” is both timely and pertinent. It underscores the necessity of addressing, at the highest level, our shared concerns about the climate crisis, the need for citizen security, food security and food sovereignty and the quest for investment to boost economic growth throughout the Americas and the need for reform of the international financial system to help our Member States build resilience.
No matter the political or social systems, geographic location, size, income levels, or geopolitical influence, addressing our challenges through an effective multilateral approach is essential for collective success.
Mr. Chairman, as I close, I wish to reiterate, I wish to applaud you and the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Secretary General for your sterling efforts to bring the countries of the Americas closer together for this all-important Summit which will be crucial for, and help deliver the prosperous, democratic and equitable societies that people expect.
It is therefore essential to close the gap between the great potential of this region and the daily struggles faced by the people who call it home.
Chair, I thank you and I take this time to reiterate Barbados’ unwavering support to the 10th Summit of the Americas and its processes. We welcome the unique opportunity to relaunch and refocus the hemispheric agenda at the highest political level.
