OAS Secretary General Meets with Prime Minister Browne Ahead of Historic General Assembly in Antigua and Barbuda

PRESS RELEASE

ST. JOHN, Antigua and Barbuda – 23rd June 2025 — His Excellency Albert Ramdin, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne on Monday, ahead of the commencement of the 55th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, set to take place in Antigua and Barbuda from Wednesday, 25th June.

During their meeting, the two leaders engaged in substantive discussions on key agenda items for the Assembly, with particular attention given to Antigua and Barbuda’s flagship proposal: “Uniting the Americas for Mental Health: From Commitment to Action.” This groundbreaking initiative—spearheaded in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)—seeks to place mental health at the forefront of regional development policy and is poised to become a model for global engagement when it is presented at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Prime Minister Browne and Secretary General Ramdin emphasized the urgent need for hemispheric cooperation in addressing the mental health crisis that continues to escalate across the Americas. They noted the staggering statistics: millions of individuals across Latin America and the Caribbean suffer from mental health conditions, yet the vast majority—nearly 78% in some regions—lack access to adequate treatment and care. The Prime Minister underscored that mental health is not a peripheral issue, but a core determinant of national stability, economic productivity, and societal well-being.

The two leaders also exchanged views on matters of particular importance to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including climate resilience, multilateral representation, and the upcoming elections of member states to various organs and agencies within the OAS.

On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Browne and Secretary General Ramdin will deliver remarks at the Opening Session of the Assembly, held at the AUA Convention Centre at Jabbowock. The Prime Minister is expected to underscore the need for robust multilateralism in addressing pressing global issues such as climate change, transnational crime, democratic erosion, and public health threats, including mental health.

Continuing themes he previously raised at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Browne is anticipated to renew his critique of isolationism and veto-driven inaction within global institutions, while advocating for greater hemispheric solidarity—particularly as small island nations like Antigua and Barbuda confront the existential consequences of a warming planet.

He will also reiterate his warning that unchecked climate change could render entire nations uninhabitable within decades and will renew his call for urgent international cooperation, climate finance, and technology transfer to support adaptation and mitigation efforts in vulnerable states.

More than 2,000 delegates, including heads of delegations, foreign ministers, and senior diplomats, are expected to converge on Antigua and Barbuda for this historic General Assembly—the first time the event is being hosted in the twin-island nation. The Assembly promises to be a landmark moment for the Caribbean, amplifying regional priorities and shaping the future policy landscape of the Americas.