Albert Ramdin

His Excellency
Albert Ramdin
Ramdin in 2024
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 July 2020
Preceded byYldiz Pollack-Beighle
Assistant Secretary General of Organization of American States
In office
19 July 2005 – July 2015
Personal details
Born
Albert Ramchand Ramdin

(1958-02-27) 27 February 1958 (age 66)
Suriname District, Suriname
Political partyProgressive Reform Party (VHP)
OccupationDiplomat, politician

Albert Ramchand Ramdin (born 27 February 1958)[1] is a Surinamese diplomat serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Santokhi cabinet since 16 July 2020.[2] 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).

Early life and education

Ramdin was born in Suriname District and went to secondary school in the capital city of Paramaribo.[3] After completing secondary school, he left for the Netherlands where he studied social geography at the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.[4]

Career

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.[5] In 1997, Ramdin was appointed the Permanent Representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) for Suriname.[6]

In 1999, he became assistant general for external relations at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).[4] In 2001, Ramdin became adviser to the Secretary General of the OAS.[5] On 7 June 2005, Ramdin was elected Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and took office on 19 July 2005.[7]

In July 2015, he returned to Suriname where he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[8] In August 2015, approximately a month after his return to Suriname, he was appointed by Minister Niermala Badrising as Ambassador at Large.[9] In May 2016, Ramdin started working for the American gold mining company Newmont Corporation.[10]

Minister of Foreign Affairs

On 16 July 2020, Ramdin became Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation in the cabinet of Santokhi.[2] In August 2020, he was the first Surinamese member of government in ten years to pay an official visit to the Netherlands.[11]

Awards

  • 2009: GOPIO International Award[12]
  • 2013: CREF Award, Caribbean Renewal Energy Forum[13][14]

References

  1. ^ "Albert Ramdin" (PDF). Organization of American States. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Het nieuwe regeerteam dat donderdag aantreedt". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Voorbeeldige Burgers • Albert Ramdin". SCC - Multimedia (in Dutch). YouTube. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Lecture: Ambassador Albert Ramdin on OAS Policies and Practices in the Caribbean and Small States". Repeating Island. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Resume Albert Ramdin". Organization of American States. August 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Ambassadeur Ramdin na tien jaar weer in overheidsdienst". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  7. ^ Ivan, Cairo (8 June 2015). "Suriname wint OAS-verkiezing". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch).
  8. ^ "Ramdin zal zich op Buitenlandse Zaken inzetten". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Ramdin zal zich op Buitenlandse Zaken inzetten". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). 22 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Albert Ramdin: 'Suriname heeft nood aan positivisme'". Parbode (in Dutch). 3 January 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Binnen drie maanden ambassadeurs in Suriname en Nederland". NOS (in Dutch). 24 August 2020.
  12. ^ Mahabier, Eric (19 January 2009). "Albert Ramdin ontvangt GOPIO award". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch).
  13. ^ "OAS assistent secretaris-generaal Ramdin ontvangt energie-award". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 11 October 2013.
  14. ^ "OAS Assistant Secretary General Receives Award at Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum in Aruba". ECPA Americas. 10 October 2013.