Dominica’s Ambassador to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Steve Ferrol, has officially assumed the chairmanship of the OAS Permanent Council, placing the country at the forefront of the organisation’s principal political body for the next three months.
The transition took place during an official ceremony at OAS headquarters, where Ambassador Ferrol presented his work programme for the current quarter. His agenda focuses on strengthening governance and improving the effectiveness of the Permanent Council while reinforcing the role of the Organisation of American States in addressing the region’s evolving political, economic, social and security challenges.
According to Ambassador Ferrol, his chairmanship will be guided by three key priorities: improving the efficiency of the Permanent Council through more strategic agendas, increasing the organization’s relevance in responding to contemporary regional issues, and strengthening hemispheric integration among member states.
He also pledged to ensure that the concerns of small island developing states (SIDS) remain prominent during discussions, emphasizing that countries with smaller populations and economies should continue to have a meaningful voice in shaping regional policy.
“The chairmanship will place special emphasis on the needs and perspectives of island states and small island developing states. This underscores the principle that integration and cooperation must benefit all countries in the hemisphere, regardless of their size,” Ambassador Ferrol stated.
As chair, Ferrol will oversee meetings of the Permanent Council, coordinate discussions among member states and help guide the organization’s work on issues affecting the Americas, including democratic governance, sustainable development, security, human rights and regional cooperation.
Brazil’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Benoni Belli, has been elected vice chair of the Permanent Council and will serve alongside Ambassador Ferrol during the current rotation. The positions of chair and vice chair rotate every three months among OAS member states.
Dominica’s appointment to the chairmanship provides the country with an opportunity to contribute directly to discussions on major hemispheric issues while highlighting the priorities of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and other small island nations.
Government officials say the leadership role reflects Dominica’s continued engagement in regional and international diplomacy and its commitment to promoting cooperation, inclusive governance and sustainable development throughout the Americas.
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