N E W S   Last updated: Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 12:01pm EST

Ambassador-Designate Marks Is First Female Permanent Represenative to OAS

WASHINGTON DC (JIS): Sunday, May 23, 2010

Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Her Excellency Audrey Marks presents OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza with her Letters of Accreditation, at a brief ceremony at the organization's headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C., on May 21. Looking on at right is the OAS Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin.

Jamaica's Ambassador-designate to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, yesterday (May 22) created history when she formally became the island's first female Permanent Representative to the Washington-headquartered Organization of American States (OAS).

Ambassador Marks, who arrived in the US capital on May 17, began her accreditation process by presenting her credentials to OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza during a brief ceremony at the Organization's headquarters in downtown Washington.

In remarks after delivering her letters of accreditation, Ambassador Marks re-assured the Secretary General and the other top diplomats and Members of the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors in attendance, that Jamaica remained fully committed to the OAS Charter and to the Organization's essential purposes.

Stating that she looked forward to working with the OAS leadership, Ambassador Marks commented that she has greatly admired the work done by the hemispheric organisation over the decades, particularly in the areas of peace, security and prosperity for the Americas. "Thought there are many challenges, I see the attitude of the OAS is to look for opportunities in the midst of crisis," she said.

United States Alternate Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), W. Lewis Anselem, welcomes new Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the OAS, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, when she presented her credentials at the OAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on May 21.

The newly-accredited Jamaican Representative to the OAS congratulated Secretary General Insulza and Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin on their recent re-election by the member states to the leadership of the Organization.

The Ambassador also expressed her delight in the opportunity to lead Jamaica's delegation to the upcoming 4oth regular General Assembly session, slated for Lima, Peru, in early June.

"I look forward to committing Jamaica's position of active and constructive dialogue on 'Peace, Security and Cooperation in the Americas,' the theme of this year's General Assembly session," she said.

Ambassador Marks will execute her first duties as Representative to the OAS as she occupies Jamaica's seat on Monday, when the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General are sworn in to begin their new term.

After accepting the Ambassador Marks' accreditation and welcoming her, Secretary General Insulza lauded Jamaica for its tradition of providing leadership at the regional and sub-regional levels. Mr. Insulza said he was confident that Jamaica would "continue to lead the way in our organization for better understanding, peace and co-operation among our countries."

Prior to delivering her accreditation letters, Ambassador Marks held a private meeting with the Secretary General. Among those attending the ceremony were: Ambassador, of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Her Excellency La Celia Prince; Ambassador of Guyana, His Excellency Bayney Karran,; Ambassador of The Bahamas, His Excellency Cornelius A. Smith; Ambassador of Belize, His Excellency Nestor Mendez; Ambassador of Panama, His Excellency Guillermo Cochez; and Alternate Representative of the United States, W. Lewis Anselem.

Ambassador Marks was accompanied to the OAS by Jamaica's Alternate Representative to the OAS, Ann Scott, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy, Sharon Miller.

A career entrepreneur, Ambassador Marks has founded and operated numerous businesses, including the highly successful Paymaster (Jamaica) Ltd. She is the recipient of numerous citations and recognition from her peers and various organizations for her pioneering work, entrepreneurial endeavours and commitment to social causes.