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 by	Yldiz 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 party	Progressive Reform Party (VHP)
Occupation	Diplomat, 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. "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. "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. "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.