Farewell to Ambassador Yolande Smith of Grenada

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Dear colleagues, I am honored to speak on behalf of the member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and the Dominican Republic, on the occasion of the farewell to Ambassador Yolande Yvonne Smith, who placed at the service of this Organization her solid academic training and her vast experience as a diplomat and official in international organizations, working exhaustively in defense of the interests of her country, the search for solutions toward peace, the promotion of the rights of women, and consensus in highly complex situations in our hemisphere.

During her time in the Organization she chaired the Permanent Council and the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), showing her great capacity for conciliation, contributing to the strengthening of the values that govern us, and reminding us of the need for the participation of women in positions of leadership, specifically in this Organization.

Her chairmanship of CIDI was marked by her commitment to hemispheric priorities and to the good practices of member countries on the subjects addressed in this Permanent Council, especially regional cooperation for the digital transition.

Ambassador Smith, your country and your fellow citizens should be very proud of the dignified and meritorious way in which you represented them during these years within this hemispheric Organization. We are certain that, from your new functions, your contributions will continue to benefit your country and our region.

We wish you every success.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and my apologies.