Staff Reports
The latest flap at the Organization of American States is not a sleepy memo in a filing cabinet. It’s a leaked report — published by Infobae — that says an internal White House memorandum is calling for an independent accounting and probe into the management of the OAS under Secretary General Albert Ramdin. If true, it is exactly the kind of shakeup the hemisphere’s top multilateral body needs: accountability, not cover-ups.
What the report says about Albert Ramdin and Xaviera Jessurun
According to the reporting, the alleged White House memo accuses Ramdin’s office of administrative irregularities, nepotism, and misuse of resources. The memo reportedly zeroes in on Xaviera Jessurun, a close aide to Ramdin who was previously tied to investigations in Suriname. The article claims the memo recommends an independent audit and suggests suspending or removing officials closely connected to Ramdin while investigators sort things out. Keep in mind: the White House has not publicly confirmed the memo, so official spokesmen are still dodging like politicians in a budget fight.
Why U.S. taxpayers should pay attention
The United States is the OAS’s largest funder. That gives Washington leverage and, more importantly, a responsibility to demand transparency. Reports say Jessurun’s compensation at the OAS is unusually high — a figure that, if accurate, should make every taxpayer sit up. U.S. money should support democracy and human rights, not pay for cushy offices for cronies. And those Suriname court summonses tied to the SLM probe are not a comforting footnote; they are the red flag that should have triggered a serious, public review months ago.
What must happen next — and fast
Demand an independent audit and full transparency
Whether or not the leaked memo is formally confirmed, the facts on the table require action. The OAS should open its books to an independent audit immediately. Secretary General Albert Ramdin must cooperate fully or step aside while the inquiry proceeds. The United States, represented by Ambassador Leandro “Lee” Rizzuto Jr. at the OAS, should use its diplomatic weight to press for a vote if necessary. Multilateral institutions survive on credibility; when that credibility erodes, swift and public remedies are the only cure.
This episode is a test of whether international organizations serve citizens or insiders. If the OAS wants to remain a meaningful forum for democracy and human rights in the Americas, it will welcome scrutiny and clean house where needed. If not, Washington should do what it must to protect taxpayers and the region’s values — with candor, not whispered memos. Bureaucracy shouldn’t be a shield for corruption; it should be a mechanism for accountability.
