BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONE of the Federation’s top diplomats has expressed his delight at the recent inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Starret Greene, Organisation of American States (OAS) Representative to St. Kitts and Nevis, expounded upon the significance of President Barack Obama’s achievement in the context of his organisation.
“In respect to the OAS, the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States means the US can play a positive role in our agenda, which is an inter-American hemispheric agenda. We believe the US will continue to play a leading role in the promotion of this agenda under the Barack Obama Administration,” said the Diplomat.
Greene further stated that this agenda includes issues such as the promotion of democracy and good governance, the strengthening of human rights, the promotion of peace in the hemisphere, matters relating to trade and problems associated with unemployment and crime.
Calling the global economic crisis “a serious issue affecting not only America but also the entire world”, the OAS Ambassador revealed his hope that the new President would be able to mitigate the effects of the global downturn.
“The OAS believes that Obama’s stimulus package should go a long way in revitalising the US economy and this will have an effect on the rest of the world as well, since America is the world’s leading market in the trade of goods and services,” he enlightened.
Greene also expressed cautious optimism at the notion that the new US Administration would distribute more aid throughout the region.
“I am hopeful it will happen but it’s not going to happen overnight, given the current financial and economic situation in America.
“However, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made it clear that developmental assistance is an issue she’s going to be looking at and, in that context, it is quite possible that we might see more aid flowing not only to our region but to other needy regions in the world,” he concluded.
