OEA - Informe CIDI INF. 691 25 de 2025

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

Inter-American Council for Integral Development

(CIDI)

OEA/Ser.W CIDI/INF.691/25 12 December 2025

Original: Textual

REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR CHET NEYMOUR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BAHAMAS, ON THE AGENDA ITEM “SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF THE

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT, KIM OSBORNE”

(Delivered during the regular meeting of CIDI held on December 11, 2025)Remarks by

H.E. Chet D. Neymour Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative

on the occasion of

Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) Special Recognition of Executive Secretary Kim Osborne

Venue

OAS Main Building Simone Bolivar Room 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW Washington D.C., 20006

Tuesday, 11 December 20251

Good morning All, It is certainly my honour to take the floor on behalf of the Government and People of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to extend our sincere appreciation to Executive Secretary Kim Osborne as she concludes her distinguished tenure but not the end of her career in the OAS. Colleagues, Executive Secretary Osborne entered this role with more than two decades of deep institutional experience—serving in multiple leadership capacities across the OAS system. She brought technical mastery, operational competence, proven managerial effectiveness, and an unmatched understanding of the development architecture of this Organization. Quite frankly—and as the Biblical story of Queen Esther would remind us—her professional journey prepared her “for such a time as this.” Under her leadership, SEDI was not simply managed; it was modernized and strengthened. She brought coherence through the ONE-SEDI approach, dismantled siloed work patterns, and mobilized the full breadth

remind us—her professional journey prepared her “for such a time as this.” Under her leadership, SEDI was not simply managed; it was modernized and strengthened. She brought coherence through the ONE-SEDI approach, dismantled siloed work patterns, and mobilized the full breadth of the Secretariat’s technical expertise. She expand ed and professionalized partnerships, elevated SEDI’s visibility, and mobilizing and leveraging new external resourcesto the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars - distinctively and decisively demonstrating that even an historically under-resourced pillar can deliver impact at scale when guided by clear vision and disciplined execution. Her tenure realized tangible advances: the expansion of the OAS Partnership Scholarships; the launch of the Youth Academy for Transformative Technologies; continued success of the Small Business Development Centers; strengthened Ministerial processes; prog ress in sustainable development programming; the establishment of CooperaNet; and a consistent prioritization of results over rhetoric. Assuredly as is the case for all of the Member States, for The Bahamas, Executive Secretary Osborne has been a steadfast ally—supporting Bahamian leadership in Ministerial processes, advancing our chairmanship of the CIDI Policies Committee, and most notably, mobilizing immediate technical and financial support in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Those responses reflected not only competence, but compassion and commitment. Filling a Gap – A Forward-Looking Reflection Chair, and Executive Secretary Osborne with your kind indulgence, please allow me to raise two brief but important reflections arising from Executive Secretary Osborne’s tenure. First, Executive Secretary Osborne’s service revealed that she often carried multiple executive responsibilities simultaneously functioning not only as Executive Secretary of SEDI, but at various long-term moments also stepping in as Director of Sustainabl e Development, Economic Development, Human Development, and effectively performing functions aligned with the Director General of the Inter -American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD). This reality subtly underscores a structural gap that Member States may wish to consider. The IACD —our hemispheric instrument for development cooperation —now carries mandates far too

Development, and effectively performing functions aligned with the Director General of the Inter -American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD). This reality subtly underscores a structural gap that Member States may wish to consider. The IACD —our hemispheric instrument for development cooperation —now carries mandates far too expansive, technical, and politically sensitive to be fully subsumed within the Executive Secretary’s already broad portfolio. Modernizing the Development Cooperation Fund, mobilizing resources across Development2

Financial Institutions (DFIs)and private -sector partners, coordinating South -South and Triangular Cooperation, and meeting extensive reporting obligations all require specialized and dedicated executive leadership. Accordingly, somewhat prescriptively, The Bahamas respectfully proposes that it may be timely for Member States to reflect—carefully and objectively—on whether the current configuration of the IACD fully aligns with the ambitions we have collectively assigned to it. Executive Secretary Osborne’s performance demonstrated both the necessity and the feasibility of strengthened leadership in this space, while highlighting the natural limitations imposed by the existing structure. This proposal is offered merely as a forward-looking reflection.

Article 117 of the OAS Charter – A Necessary Reminder Second, Chair, with Executive Secretary Osborne concluding her tenure on 31 December 2025, Member States will soon confront a matter of legal and institutional significance. Article 117 of the OAS Charter is unequivocal: “The Secretary General shall appoint, with the approval of the Inter -American Council for Integral Development, an Executive Secretary for Integral Development.” For The Bahamas—and for many like -minded delegations—this is not a ceremonial provision. It is the one senior trust appointment within this pillar that expressly requires the deliberate approval of Member States. Accordingly, the process must be rigorous, strategically grounded, and reflective of the geographic and political balance that defines the Organization and this Council. The Bahamas also recalls the Organization’s longstanding —yet increasingly fragile —commitment to equitable geographic representation at senior levels. We reaffirm that The Caribbean is not a peripheral participant in development cooperation; it is a region whose structural vulnerabilities lie at the heart of the CIDI mandate.

The Bahamas also recalls the Organization’s longstanding —yet increasingly fragile —commitment to equitable geographic representation at senior levels. We reaffirm that The Caribbean is not a peripheral participant in development cooperation; it is a region whose structural vulnerabilities lie at the heart of the CIDI mandate. Therefore, the individual appointed to this position must obviously have knowledge of the Organization and all Member States, however, they must not simply “know” the Caribbean from a conceptual distance —they must understand its complexities, speak credibly for its realities, and reflect the geographic balance expressly affirmed by Member States. And it is important to be factual: With Ms. Osborne’s departure from the post, she remains the only non -trust Caribbean national at the P -5 level or above across the entire General Secretariat. This is alarming. Caribbean leadership at senior technical levels has become, quite frankly, an increasingly rare species. This is not rhetoric—it is a structural imbalance that must inform our deliberations.3

As delegations reflect on these broader considerations’ leadership, structure, representation, and stewardship may be useful to recall that Article 117 exists precisely these moments. It is a reminder that the development pillar demands executive leadership aligned with both institutional mandates and Member State expectations. Final Tribute Chair, colleagues, Executive Secretary Osborne’s tenure demonstrates what principled, experienced, technically competent leadership can achieve in this Organization. Her legacy is profound and lasting. She strengthened a pillar that is essential to our development partnership and to the credibility of the OAS itself. On behalf of the Government and People of The Bahamas, we express our profound gratitude, admiration, and pride for our Caribbean sister. As you embark on your next chapter, Kim, know that you leave behind not only a legacy of excellence but the expectation—indeed, the standard—for those who will follow. The Bahamas extends its best wishes for your continued success. Chair, and please note that these remarks will be circulated to the Committee for proper reference and to make sure that I’m not misquoted. Thank you and this Committee for its kind attention.