On September 17, 2024, Ambassador Jacinth Henry Martin, Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Organization of American States and current Chair of the OAS Committee on Hemispheric Security, paid a visit to the historic facilities of the Casa del Soldado, headquarters of the Inter-American Defense Board, in Washington, DC
On the occasion, the Ambassador was received by the leadership of the IADB, represented on the occasion by Brigadier General Marco Antonio Álvarez Reyes, President of the Council of Delegates, and by Major General Richard Heitkamp, Director of the Inter-American Defense College (IADC).
During his stay, he was explained the purpose, structure, organization and activities carried out by this International Multilateral Defense Organization, in order to comply with the Mandates established by the Organization of American States (OAS) and its Democratic Charter.
For her part, Ambassador Jacinth Henry emphasized the importance of the participation of OAS Member States in the Inter-American System, since together with the Inter-American Defense Board, through cooperation, collaboration and frank and respectful dialogue, solutions can be found and implemented to the various challenges faced daily in the hemispheric environment.
The Ambassador also stressed that without security there are no full conditions that foster development, human rights and democracy, fundamental pillars that govern the actions of the OAS, and therefore the mandate of the Committee on Hemispheric Security that she presides will require her to promote actions that tend to strengthen security for all countries of the continent through the fundamental commitment of the OAS with the technical, advisory and educational advice offered by the IADB.
Finally, the IADB Leadership highlighted that the active participation of the Member States has enabled the successful development of activities in Disaster Cooperation, Cybersecurity, Humanitarian Demining, Migratory Flows, Arms Management, Environmental Protection, and Maritime Security, areas of utmost importance to consolidate Security for the American peoples.
Also present at the meeting were Colonel Daniel Fitch, Representative of the Director General of the IADB Secretariat; Colonel Claudio Alcazar, Liaison Officer of the IADB with the OAS; and Frieda García, Advisor to the Directorate of the IADB.
