{{Short description|Surinamese diplomat (born 1958)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = His Excellency | name = Albert Ramdin | image = Albert Ramdin en octubre 2024.jpg | office = Secretary General of the Organization of American States | order = 11th | predecessor = Luis Almagro | term_start = 30 May 2025 | image_size = | caption = Ramdin in 2024 | title = | office1 = Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation | president1 = Chan Santokhi | term_start1 = 16 July 2020 | term_end1 = 29 May 2025 | predecessor1 = Yldiz Pollack-Beighle | successor1 = Krishna Mathoera | office2 = Assistant Secretary General of Organization of American States | term_start2 = 19 July 2005 | term_end2 = July 2015 | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | birth_name = Albert Ramchand Ramdin | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|02|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Suriname District, Suriname | party = Progressive Reform Party (VHP) | occupation = Minister, diplomat, politician }}
'''Albert Ramchand Ramdin''' (born 27 February 1958)<ref name="oas">{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/en/sedi/ddes/GAdialogue/IV_FORUM/speakers.pdf |title=Albert Ramdin|website=Organization of American States|access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> is a Surinamese diplomat serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Santokhi cabinet since 16 July 2020.<ref name="team">{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/59627|title=Het nieuwe regeerteam dat donderdag aantreedt |website=Star Nieuws|access-date=14 July 2020|language=nl}}</ref> He is a member of the Progressive Reform Party (VHP). He was a diplomat until 2015 and was, among other roles, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luxner |first=Larry |date=2025-05-09 |title=Suriname's Albert Ramdin becomes head of OAS as multiple crises loom |url=https://washdiplomat.com/surinames-albert-ramdin-becomes-head-of-oas-as-multiple-crises-loom/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |website=Washington Diplomat |language=en-US}}</ref> In March 2025 he was elected to serve as the Secretary General of the OAS for the 2025–2030 term.
== Early life and education == Ramdin was born in Suriname District and went to secondary school in the capital city of Paramaribo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voorbeeldige Burgers • Albert Ramdin |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E89wLoHmojA |website=SCC - Multimedia |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=25 August 2020 |language=nl |date=13 November 2017}}</ref> After completing secondary school, he left for the Netherlands where he studied social geography at the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.<ref name="repeat">{{cite web|url=https://repeatingislands.com/2009/10/21/lecture-ambassador-albert-ramdin-on-oas-policies-and-practices-in-the-caribbean-and-small-states/|title=Lecture: Ambassador Albert Ramdin on OAS Policies and Practices in the Caribbean and Small States|website=Repeating Island|date=21 October 2009|access-date=15 July 2020|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124233752/https://repeatingislands.com/2009/10/21/lecture-ambassador-albert-ramdin-on-oas-policies-and-practices-in-the-caribbean-and-small-states/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Career == [[File:200824 Ramdin Suriname bij Blok 6792.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|Ramdin meeting with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok in 2020.]]
In 1991, Ramdin became the Director of the HIMOS Development Agency in Oegstgeest, Netherlands.<ref name="resume">{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/SecretaryGeneral2005_Assistant/english/Resume%20Albert%20R%20Ramdin%20December%202004%20English.doc|title=Resume Albert Ramdin|website=Organization of American States|date=August 2009|access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> In 1997, Ramdin was appointed the Permanent Representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) for Suriname.<ref name="terugsuriname">{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/30529|title=Ambassadeur Ramdin na tien jaar weer in overheidsdienst|website=Star Nieuws|access-date=15 July 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
In 1999, he became assistant general for external relations at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).<ref name="repeat" /> In 2001, Ramdin became adviser to the Secretary General of the OAS.<ref name="resume" /> On 7 June 2005, Ramdin was elected Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and took office on 19 July 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ivan|first=Cairo|date=8 June 2015|title=Suriname wint OAS-verkiezing|url=https://www.nickerie.net/News2005/2005-06-08%20-%20dwt%20-%20Suriname%20wint%20OAS-verkiezing%20-%20Albert%20Ramdien%20%20ass.%20secretaris%20generaal.htm|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=De Ware Tijd|language=nl}}</ref>
In July 2015, he returned to Suriname where he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/30839|title=Ramdin zal zich op Buitenlandse Zaken inzetten |website=Star Nieuws|access-date=15 July 2020|language=nl}}</ref> In August 2015, approximately a month after his return to Suriname, he was appointed by Minister Niermala Badrising as Ambassador at Large.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 August 2015|title=Ramdin zal zich op Buitenlandse Zaken inzetten|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/30839|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Star Nieuws|language=nl}}</ref> In May 2016, Ramdin started working for the American gold mining company Newmont.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://parbode.com/albert-ramdin-suriname-heeft-nood-aan-positivisme-parbode-sneak-peek/|title=Albert Ramdin: 'Suriname heeft nood aan positivisme' |website=Parbode|date=3 January 2017 |access-date=15 July 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
=== Minister of Foreign Affairs === On 16 July 2020, Ramdin became Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation in the cabinet of President Chan Santokhi.<ref name="team"/> In August 2020, he was the first Surinamese member of government in ten years to pay an official visit to the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 August 2020|title=Binnen drie maanden ambassadeurs in Suriname en Nederland|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2345261-binnen-drie-maanden-ambassadeurs-in-suriname-en-nederland.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=NOS|language=nl}}</ref>
=== Secretary General of the Organization of American States === {{main|2025 Organization of American States Secretary General election}} In early 2025, Ramdin presented his candidacy to succeed Luis Almagro as OAS Secretary General.<ref>{{cite web |title=Permanent Council to Receive Candidates for OAS Secretary General |url=https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=AVI-017/25 |publisher=Organization of American States |website=Press Advisory |access-date=10 February 2025 |date=5 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lejtman |first1=Román |title=La OEA inicia un complejo proceso electoral con dos candidatos que tienen posiciones antagónicas sobre la agenda geopolítica de Trump |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2025/02/09/la-oea-inicia-un-complejo-proceso-electoral-con-dos-candidatos-que-tienen-posiciones-antagonicas-sobre-la-agenda-geopolitica-de-trump/ |publisher=Infobae |access-date=10 February 2025 |date=9 February 2025}}</ref> He was elected to a five-year term on 10 March 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kuipers |first1=Ank |title=Suriname's Albert Ramdin elected OAS' first Caribbean secretary general |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/surinames-albert-ramdin-elected-oas-first-caribbean-secretary-general-2025-03-10/ |access-date=10 March 2025 |agency=Reuters |date=10 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lejtman |first1=Román |title=Albert Ramdin fue elegido secretario General de la OEA: fuerte consenso del Caribe y América Latina |url=https://www.infobae.com/estados-unidos/2025/03/10/albert-ramdin-fue-elegido-secretario-general-de-la-oea-fuerte-consenso-del-caribe-y-america-latina/ |access-date=10 March 2025 |agency=Infobae |date=10 March 2025}}</ref>
== Awards == * 2009: GOPIO International Award<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mahabier|first=Eric|date=19 January 2009|title=Albert Ramdin ontvangt GOPIO award|url=http://www.nickerie.net/News2009/2009-01-19%20-%20dwt%20-%20Albert%20Ramdin%20ontvangt%20GOPIO%20award.htm |archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=De Ware Tijd|language=nl}}</ref> * 2013: CREF Award, Caribbean Renewal Energy Forum<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 October 2013|title=OAS assistent secretaris-generaal Ramdin ontvangt energie-award|url=https://www.dbsuriname.com/2013/10/11/oas-assistent-secretaris-generaal-ramdin-ontvangt-energie-award/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Dagblad Suriname|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 October 2013|title=OAS Assistant Secretary General Receives Award at Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum in Aruba|url=https://ecpamericas.org/news/oas-assistant-secretary-general-receives-award-at-caribbean-renewable-energy-forum-in-aruba/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=ECPA Americas|language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{cite web |title=Albert R. Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname: Candidate for the position of OAS Secretary General |url=https://scm.oas.org/pdfs/2024/BrochureENG.pdf |publisher=Organization of American States}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Yldiz Pollack-Beighle}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation|years=2020–2025}} {{s-aft|after=Krishna Mathoera}} |- {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|before=Luis Almagro}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary General of the Organization of American States|years=2025–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Foreign Ministers of Suriname}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramdin, Albert}} Category:1958 births Category:Permanent representatives of Suriname to the Organization of American States Category:Secretaries general of the Organization of American States Category:Ambassadors of Suriname to Costa Rica Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Suriname Category:Living people Category:Progressive Reform Party (Suriname) politicians Category:University of Amsterdam alumni Category:Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam alumni Category:Indo-Surinamese people Category:Surinamese politicians of Indian descent