Sir Ronald Michael SandersKCNKCMGAM[1][2] (born 26 January 1948)[3] is an Antiguan Barbudan diplomat,academic,former broadcast-journalist,and the current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States and to the Organization of American States[4] (OAS) since 2015. He holds the unique distinction of being the first person,since the OAS enlarged its membership in 1962,to serve as Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS for an unprecedented three terms.[5][6] He completed his highly successful third term on December 31,2023,having played a widely recognized role in guiding the work of the Permanent Council in the peaceful transition of government in Guatemala on 14 January 2024.[7][8]
He is a speaker at conventions and conferences on global financial services issues and on Latin America and Caribbean states in the global political-economy and the Commonwealth.[16][17]
Sanders was a successful broadcaster in the 1970s,becoming general manager of the Guyana Broadcasting Service in 1973 at the early age of 25.[20] Simultaneously,he helped to found the Caribbean Broadcasting Union,and the Caribbean News Agency,serving on the Executive of both bodies.[1] He also served as the youngest elected member of the Executive Board of UNESCO and the first person from a micro state (1983-1985) to do so.[21][1] Having been one of the first Caribbean negotiators with the OECD on its "Harmful Tax Policy" in 1990,he went on to become the chairman of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force[1] against drug trafficking and money laundering. Since 2010,he has been a member of "The Friends of the Democratic Charter",a group of leading personalities from Latin America and the Caribbean,established by former US PresidentJimmy Carter,to oversee compliance with the Inter-American Democratic Charter.[22]
Between 2002–2004,Sanders was Antigua and Barbuda's chief foreign affairs representative.[23] He holds the distinction of being the only representative of a small state to lead a successful trade dispute at the World Trade Organization.[24]
In 2004,a World Trade Organization arbitration panel found in favour of the arguments he led as Antigua and Barbuda's ambassador in a case against the United States of America over cross-border access for Internet gaming and a violation of the General Agreement on Trade in Services.[25]
Commonwealth Secretary General Elections 2015
Sanders was perceived to be the frontrunner to become the 6th Commonwealth Secretary-General[26] and was backed by the majority of CARICOM nations heading into a meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government in Malta in November 2015. There were three candidates:Sanders,proposed by Antigua and Barbuda with the support of the majority of Caribbean countries;Baroness Patricia Scotland,a member of the British House of Lords and a former British government minister,nominated by Dominica where she was born and backed by the British government;and Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba,of Botswana,a former Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.[27]
Sanders' campaign for the post was torpedoed the day before the election by a story in British newspaper The Daily Telegraph that had been touted to other media but rejected by them. The story was based on an eleven-year old,unsubstantiated allegation made in an unpublished report by the political party then in office in Antigua and Barbuda.[28] At the time,the allegations were roundly condemned by lawyers in the region.[29][30] The story also paid scant attention to a published letter in June 2015 by the police commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda saying that the police had no interest in Sir Ronald and that Antigua's director of public prosecutions had ruled that the allegations against him were “seriously defective”and “disclose no offence”.[31] In the end,both Sanders and Masire-Mwamba lost to Patricia Scotland.[26][32]
Sanders went on to continue his diplomatic career as Antigua and Barbuda's ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS).[33]
University of London Inquiry into Commonwealth Studies
In January 2021,Sanders was again pressed into Commonwealth Service when he was appointed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of London to serve as a member and rapporteur of a committee to conduct an inquiry into the future of Commonwealth Studies at the University.[34] The committee presented its report in July 2021[35] and all of its recommendations,particularly to maintain Commonwealth Studies,were accepted by the University Council.[36]
Representation at the Organization of American States
In August 2015,Sanders was appointed as Antigua and Barbuda's ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS).[33] From January to April 2016,he served a highly praised period as Chair of the Permanent Council of the 34-member Organization of American States.[37] The Permanent Council is the decision-making body responsible for the affairs of the OAS between meetings of foreign ministers of the member countries. In January/February 2016,he also led a Special OAS mission to Haiti that helped to solve a constitutional and political impasse that threatened violence and political disruption;a role for which he is highly regarded within Haiti and by the Haitian diaspora.[38][39][40]
In April 2021,Sanders was appointed Vice Chair of the OAS Permanent Council for a three-month term.[41] After the sudden death of Chair Elisa Ruiz Díaz,he served as Chair for the remainder of the term.[42] On October 1,2023,he assumed the Chair of the Permanent Council of the OAS for a historic third term,which ended on December 31,2023.[43][44] He held several Special Meetings of the Permanent Council on challenges being experienced in the Americas such as climate change,irregular migration,guns,gangs,and violence,in addition to other issues of democracy and security confronting the Member States of the OAS,particularly Guatemala.[43][44][45] In the latter case,he played an important role in ensuring that the Government of Guatemala cooperated with the OAS Permanent Council and the Secretary-General of the Organization,leading to a peaceful transition of government on 14 January 2024.[46][47][48][49]
Role in Guatemala 2023-2024
In December 2023,Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei Falla requested Ambassador Sanders,as Chair of the OAS Permanent Council,to visit Guatemala in the company of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro to hold discussions on the leadership transition process in the country.[50] The transition process was contentious due to efforts by Guatemala’s Public Ministry to overturn the results of the first and second round of elections held on June 25,2023 and August 20,2023,respectively.[51] In these elections,the majority voted for Bernardo Arévalo as President and Karin Herrera as Vice President to take office on January 14,2024.[51][49] The official visit to Guatemala occurred between December 15–16,2023.[47] Along with the Secretary General,Sanders held discussions with President Giammattei,senior judges of Guatemala’s Constitutional Court and Vice President-Elect Karin Herrera.[47][52][53][54] Sanders delivered his report on December 20,2023 to the Permanent Council,[55] and announced,among other things,that the Government of Guatemala had agreed to invite a good offices mission of representatives from the Permanent Council to visit Guatemala,under Article 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.[56][57]
Subsequently,a group of five ambassadors from the Permanent Council of the OAS,including Sanders,visited Guatemala from January 12 to January 14,2024 to hold meetings with relevant stakeholders and to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Bernardo Arévalo and Vice President Karin Herrera on January 14,2024.[58] Sanders participated in meetings with judges of Guatemala’s Constitutional Court,the Human Rights Ombudsman,the president of the Supreme Court of Justice,the Minister of Foreign Affairs,Mario Búcaro,President-elect Bernardo Arévalo,members of the 48 Cantones and other indigenous and ancestral authorities,and members of the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural,Commercial,Industrial,and Financial Associations (CACIF).[58] Sanders’role in helping to guide Guatemala to a peaceful transition of government was praised by key players in Guatemala,including the foreign minister,Mario Búcaro Flores who,on 21 December 2023,expressed “heartfelt appreciation”for Sanders’“exceptional leadership as Chair of the Permanent Council”,saying “your guidance has been instrumental in addressing critical issues and advancing the wellbeing of our citizens”.[59][60]
Service to Antigua and Barbuda since 1978
Sir Ronald is one of only two surviving members of the three delegations from Antigua and Barbuda that participated in the Antigua and Barbuda Constitutional Conference with the British Government at Lancaster House,London in December 1980.[61][62] Earlier,along with then Minister of External Affairs Lester Bird (later,Sir Lester) he had drafted the Memorandum to the British Government petitioning for Antigua and Barbuda’s independence,and participated in talks with the British Foreign Office Minister,responsible for the Caribbean,Nicholas Ridley.[63][62]
From 1978 to 1982,he worked with a team of local and foreign technical experts to develop a 5-year economic plan for Antigua,and he served as a key adviser to the Minister of External Affairs,attending regional and hemispheric meetings of Foreign Ministers and Heads of Government.[21][64] He helped to establish the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States,[21] writing the first conceptual paper in a speech,delivered by Lester Bird,which was dubbed “The Thorn Bird Speech”.[65][66] Subsequently,together with Sierra Leonese lawyer,Abass Bundu,as technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat,he participated in meetings with all the Heads of Government and Opposition leaders in preparation for the formulation of the Treaty,establishing the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.[66]
He was then appointed as Minister-Counsellor in the Antigua and Barbuda Permanent Mission to the UN in 1982,where he negotiated diplomatic relations with China.[21][67] Subsequently,he became High Commissioner to London and concurrently Ambassador to several European countries including France and Germany.[68] While serving as Antigua and Barbuda's High Commissioner to London,he was one of three Commonwealth High Commissioners elected in 1985 to liaise with the UN Committee on countering Apartheid propaganda.[69] He left the Foreign Service formally in 1987 but continued pro bono work for the government of Antigua and Barbuda before returning,once again,as High Commissioner to London from 1996 to 2004.[70][68] He also served as Ambassador to several UN bodies,including the World Trade Organization where he led a successful case against the US for a breach of the General Agreement on Trade in Services.[71][72] He holds the distinction of being the only representative of a small state to lead a successful trade dispute at the World Trade Organization.[73][74] During this period,he also led Antigua and Barbuda’s negotiations with the Organization for Cooperation in Economic Development (OECD and the Financial Action Task Force,succeeding in keeping Antigua and Barbuda off a blacklist.[69] He also negotiated the lifting of a financial advisory against Antigua and Barbuda by the US and UK governments.[75]
Between 2002–2004,Sanders was Antigua and Barbuda's chief foreign affairs representative.[68]
Family
Sir Ronald Sanders is the younger brother of the late Joseph Sanders LLM (Lond.) LLB (UWO) Barrister (England) International and Constitutional Lawyer,a former Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Deputy High Commissioner to Canada for Guyana.[76][77] Both his parents are deceased. He has three sisters who are Jean Reis,Dorothy Etter and Sandra Millen. His sister Jean died in 2022.[78]
He is married to Susan Sanders,the eldest daughter of former Commonwealth Secretary-General Sir Shridath Ramphal and Lady Ramphal.[79]
Awards
In 1997,he was awarded the dignity of Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom,Head of the Commonwealth.[80] This was followed in 2002 by his promotion by Queen Elizabeth II as Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG).[1][80] He was also honoured as Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (KCN) in 2001 in the first cohort of national honours awarded by the Nation of Antigua and Barbuda.[10] He was also bestowed with the dignity of Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques in April 2002 by the Republic of France.[80] In December 2012,he was awarded with one of the highest honours of Australia by the Government of Australia as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his “service to Australian relations,particularly concerning Commonwealth issues and advancing the interests of small developing states of the Caribbean region.”[81][82]
In 2014,the University of the West Indies conferred on him an Honorary Doctorate,specifically the degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Ltt),for his significant contributions to the Caribbean region through his relentless advocacy for Caribbean unity and the advancement of the Caribbean Community regional integration movement.[80]
Publications
He has written several chapters and Forewords in books,as well as articles in academic journals,on the politics and economies of the Caribbean and the Commonwealth. His book,“Crumbled Small:The Commonwealth Caribbean in World Politics”,published in 2005 by Hansib,UK,remains necessary reading for institutions,academics,diplomats, students and others who are interested in Caribbean affairs.[83][84] He also wrote "Antigua and Barbuda,1966-1981:Transition,Trial,Triumph" published in 1984 by Caribbean Communications and "Broadcasting in Guyana" published by Routledge and Kegan Paul,London in 1978.[62][21][85]
Sanders is regarded as a leading voice on matters related to the Caribbean,the Commonwealth and the OAS.[82] His academic writings have been published extensively,particularly on the Commonwealth and small states. Additionally,since 2004 he has written over 1,000 columns,published in leading Caribbean newspapers and by online global news portals,on the Caribbean,Latin America,the United States,and the Commonwealth.[86]
Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign island country in the Caribbean. It lies at the conjuncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles.
The politics of Antigua and Barbuda takes place in a framework of a unitary parliamentary representative democratic monarchy,wherein the sovereign of Antigua and Barbuda is the head of state,appointing a governor-general to act as vice-regal representative in the nation. A prime minister is appointed by the governor-general as the head of government,and of a multi-party system;the prime minister advises the governor-general on the appointment of a Council of Ministers. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Parliament. The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Organization of American States is an international organization founded on 30 April 1948 to promote cooperation among its member states within the Americas.
Saint Lucia maintains friendly relations with the major powers active in the Caribbean,including the United States,the United Kingdom,Canada,and France. Saint Lucia has no extant international disputes,aside from tension resulting from the island's status as a transit point for South American drugs destined for the United States and Europe.
The Caribbean Community is an intergovernmental organisation that is a political and economic union of 15 member states and five associated members throughout the Americas,The Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. It has the primary objective to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members,ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared,and coordinate foreign policy. The organisation was established in 1973,by its four founding members signing the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Its primary activities involve:
Belize maintains 14 embassies to foreign countries,one consulate,and three missions to international organizations. In 1990,Belize became a member of the Organization of American States,and the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
The monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Antigua and Barbuda. The current Antiguan and Barbudan monarch and head of state,since 8 September 2022,is King Charles III. As sovereign,he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Antigua and Barbuda. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations,each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result,the current monarch is officially titled King of Antigua and Barbuda and,in this capacity,he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. However,the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.
Antigua and Barbuda maintains diplomatic relations with the United States,Canada,the United Kingdom,and the People's Republic of China,as well as with many Latin American countries and neighbouring Eastern Caribbean states. It is a member of the United Nations,the Commonwealth of Nations,the Organization of American States,the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States,the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas,Petrocaribe and the Eastern Caribbean's Regional Security System (RSS).
International reaction to the 2009 Honduran coup d'état of June 28,2009,was that the coup was widely repudiated around the globe. The United Nations,every other country in the Western Hemisphere and others,publicly condemned the military-led 2009 Honduran coup d'état and ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya as illegal and most labelled it a coup d'état. The Obama administration,along with all other governments in the hemisphere,branded the action a "coup." Every country in the region,except the United States,withdrew their ambassadors from Honduras. All ambassadors of the European Union were recalled. Venezuela said it would suspend oil shipments,and Honduras's neighbors —El Salvador,Guatemala and Nicaragua - stopped overland trade for 48 hours. The World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank suspended lending to Honduras.
Sonia M. Johnny is a St. Lucian attorney who served as her country's first woman ambassador. She has served as the Chief Negotiator for the Caribbean,President of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States,Chief of the OAS Department of Trade,Tourism and Competitiveness and Deputy Director of the Summits Secretariat.
Nestor Mendez is a Belizean diplomat and politician. He is currently the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States.
Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta is a Venezuelan politician and diplomat currently serving as Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations since 2017 and formerly served as Alternate Representative of Venezuela to the Organization of American States from 2017 to 2019. He was Venezuela's deputy foreign minister until June 2017,when he succeeded Delcy Rodriguez as Venezuela's Foreign Minister. On August 2,2017,following the 2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election,President Nicolás Maduro appointed former Vice President Jorge Arreaza to replace Moncada as the new Foreign Affairs Minister.
Dame Deborah Mae Lovell,DCN,is an Antiguan and Barbudan woman who served as Ambassador to the U.S. and the Organization of American States (OAS).
Karen-Mae Hill,is the High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom and member of the Commonwealth's Board of Governors. Hill is also the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Antigua and Barbuda to the Republic of Estonia.
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 18 January 2023 to elect members of the House of Representatives. The Labour Party (ABLP) has held an absolute majority of 15 seats in the House of Representatives after the 2018 general election,with Gaston Browne remaining as prime minister. Browne initiated a constitutional referendum after the 2018 election,which was rejected by voters,and following the death of Elizabeth II in 2022,he announced his intention to organise a referendum for the transition of Antigua and Barbuda to a republican system. Besides ABLP,the United Progressive Party (UPP),Democratic National Alliance,Barbuda People's Movement (BPM),and three independent politicians filed candidacies for the 2023 general election.
Elisa Mercedes Ruiz Díaz Bareiro was a Paraguayan lawyer and diplomat. She was the Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the Organization of American States (OAS) from 2013 until her death. She served as the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council from 6 April 2021 to 19 May 2021.
Roger F. Nyhus is an American business and civic leader who is serving as the United States ambassador to Barbados,the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS.
Republicanism in Antigua and Barbuda is a movement for the replacement of the constitutional monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda with a republican form of government.
The Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti is an international police force approved by the United Nations Security Council on 2 October 2023 to assist the government of Haiti in restoring law and order amid worsening civil strife and gang violence since 2018.
↑ Sanders, Ronald (2005-01-01). Crumbled Small: The Commonwealth Caribbean in World Politics (1sted.). London: Hansib Publications Limited. ISBN978-1-870518-86-4.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
