The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States reaffirms its full commitment to the principles, purposes, rules, and procedures established in the OAS Charter and in the institutional framework of the Organization.
Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin was unanimously elected on March 10, 2025, as the first CARICOM national to hold this position, after previously serving two terms as Assistant Secretary General of the OAS. Throughout his professional career, Secretary General Ramdin has been recognized for his commitment to dialogue, consensus-building, transparency, and the collective pursuit of peace, democracy, development, and prosperity in the Americas.
The Secretary General is fully committed to carrying out his responsibilities in accordance with the rules, regulations, and protocols that govern the General Secretariat, and to ensuring the proper and transparent management of the Organization in service of the peoples of the Americas.
The General Secretariat takes note of concerns that have been raised publicly in recent weeks and considers it important to address them with the seriousness, transparency, and institutional responsibility they deserve.
Questions regarding financial governance, budget execution, accounting, administrative procedures, and internal controls are governed by established institutional rules and oversight mechanisms. Within the General Secretariat, such matters are handled through defined administrative structures, including the Office of the Executive Director, operating under applicable regulations, financial controls, and segregation of duties.
The General Secretariat is also subject to a robust system of oversight and accountability. This includes annual external audits conducted by independent auditors, as well as internal audits and evaluations carried out by the Office of the Inspector General. These mechanisms are designed to assess financial compliance, internal controls, efficiency, and the proper use of the Organization's resources.
The General Secretariat recalls that the Office of the Inspector General is the formal institutional mechanism responsible for reviewing and determining matters related to financial irregularities. In the absence of findings by the competent oversight bodies, claims regarding financial governance should not be presented as established facts.
The General Secretariat further emphasizes that the Secretary General does not unilaterally control the resources of the Organization. The execution of mandates and activities is carried out pursuant to the program-budget approved by the General Assembly, and the General Secretariat reports regularly to the political organs of the Organization, including the Permanent Council and the General Assembly, in accordance with applicable mandates.
With respect to personnel matters, the General Secretariat recalls that the OAS Charter establishes the international and independent character of the responsibilities of the Secretary General and the personnel of the General Secretariat. Article 118 of the Charter provides that, in the performance of their duties, the Secretary General and the personnel of the Secretariat shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any authority outside the Organization.
The General Secretariat also recalls Article 119 of the OAS Charter, under which member states pledge to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary General and the personnel of the General Secretariat, and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their duties.
Appointments and compensation within the General Secretariat are governed by the applicable rules, regulations, approved budget frameworks, and established administrative procedures of the Organization. Compensation is not determined on an arbitrary or individual basis, but within an institutional system approved and overseen by the relevant bodies of the OAS.
Secretary General Ramdin has consistently maintained that any concerns regarding the administration of the General Secretariat should be addressed through the established institutional mechanisms of the Organization. He welcomes any review conducted in accordance with those procedures, so that conclusions may be based on facts, rules, and evidence.
In that spirit, and in the interest of full transparency, the General Secretariat confirms its full disposition to discuss the terms of a formal, independent review or investigation, should the Member States so decide through the appropriate institutional channels.
The leadership and personnel of the General Secretariat will continue to focus on the execution of the statutory and mandated responsibilities of the Organization, the implementation of its policies and programs, and the preparation of the 56th Regular Session of the General Assembly in Panama City, in service of all OAS member states.
Reference: E-074/26
