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Grenada’s Ambassador to the OAS elected as Chair of OAS Retirement and Pension Fund Committee

Her Excellency Gillian Bristol, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the Organization of American States (OAS), was elected as Chair of the OAS Retirement and Pension Fund Committee at a Regular Meeting of the Permanent Council, held at OAS Headquarters on 13 August 2009.

Ambassador Bristol’s nomination to the post was officially presented by H.E. Izben Williams, Permanent Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis to the OAS and Dean of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Caucus of Ambassadors in Washington, DC, and received the unanimous support of the Member States of the Organization.

In presenting Ambassador Bristol’s candidature, Ambassador Williams highlighted her record of professional accomplishment and successful representation of staff interests while serving as President and Vice‐President of the OAS Staff Association in 2007 and 2008 respectively. “mbassador Bristol has earned the respect and confidence of the Staff and the Administration and will surely bring a balanced perspective to the chairmanship of the Committee,”Ambassador Williams stated.

The OAS Retirement and Pension Plan was established in May 1928. With more than eighty‐one years of existence it is the oldest social security system of its kind in any international political organization and predates quite a few social security programs in the Americas. It was conceived as a means to protect the staff members of the then Pan

American Union, later the OAS, and their families. The stability of the Plan, its investment record and returns are a source of security for more than six hundred and thirty active participants and about two hundred pensioners and beneficiaries.

The Plan is under the responsibility of the Retirement and Pension Fund Committee which is comprised of four representatives appointed by the OAS Permanent Council, the Secretary General, the participants in the Plan, and the pensioners.

Addressing the Permanent Council following her election, Ambassador Bristol reiterated the Government of Grenada’ commitment to fair labour principles and practices stating, “t is with full cognizance of the significance of the Plan for its members that I accept this nomination…We consider it an honour and invaluable opportunity to contribute to this exemplary institution of the Americas.”Ambassador Bristol who officially presented her credentials to OAS Secretary General JoséMiguel Insulza on 10 July 2009, succeeds the former Permanent Representative of Barbados to the OAS, Ambassador Michael King, as Chair of the Committee and is the fourth CARICOM Representative to hold that post within the last  twenty years.

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