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OAS Permanent Council Paid Tribute to Simon Bolivar’s Legacy and Thinking in Commemoration of the 230 Anniversary of his Birth

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) today held a protocolary session during which representatives paid tribute to the memory, work and legacy of Simon Bolivar, in commemoration of the 230 years since his birth, and recalled the continued validity of his thinking and the need to continue working for the unity and freedom of the peoples of the Americas.

Upon opening the session, the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda and Vice Chair of the Council, Ambassador Deborah-Mae Lovell, said the celebration held today continues the tradition established in 1986 to institutionalize an annual tribute to the Liberator, "convinced that the Bolivarian legacy of hemispheric unity in the Americas will ever endure in this house." Ambassador Lovell, who chaired the Council, also stressed the features that made Bolivar a man ahead of his time. "Testimony of this is reflected in numerous documents, which highlight the clarity of thought and the consistency between his ideas and achievements," she said.

In the same vein, she said that today, "when the Hemisphere is undergoing a process of renewal aimed at responding to the aspirations of the peoples of the Americas, it is timely and fitting to pay tribute to the dreamer, the visionary, the man of action and his achievements."

The Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Saladín Selin, spoke of his country's historical ties with Simon Bolivar, as well as the "spark of freedom that he ignited in the Hemisphere." He referred to the career of the Liberator, his speeches, campaigns and struggles, saying that "no man deserves more the title of 'Man of the Americas,' because he not only overflowed the borders of several countries of the Hemisphere, but also became the firmest personality of the history of Hispanic America."

Ambassador Allan Culham, Permanent Representative of Canada, referred to Bolivar as "one of the great nation builders in world history," and stressed the importance of his legacy in the region, "which is still evident today." He also emphasized the vision of the Liberator, who "understood that mutual trust is a precursor of peace, and that the key to developing that kind of trust is a solid purposeful action that is carried out in good faith, and that is why precisely why institutions like the OAS exist."

On behalf of the States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago, Neil Parsan, spoke of the challenges facing the region, warning that many of them have been around since the days of Simon Bolivar. "The Hemisphere has witnessed positive changes that have occurred since then, but a lot still remains to be done. Our Hemisphere struggles with a high degree of inequality, poverty and the scourges associated with the drug trade, trafficking of illegal guns, violence, human trafficking and the exploitation of women and children," he said, while praising the ideals of "this great regional hero we are proud to honor today."

The Coordinator of the Central American Integration System (SICA) and Representative of Panama, Ambassador Arturo Vallarino, referred to the "unwavering ideal" of Bolivar to see all of the Americas free, sovereign and united. In speaking of the work of the South American Liberator he said that Bolivar "led the greatest political enterprise known to man, but his effort was not limited to founding countries, his central idea was to build solid republics through the construction of a strong state and liberal democratic system." "Today Simon Bolivar is still present in our America, and our Organization is called upon to strengthen and comply with the thoughts and actions of the Liberator to see our territories united," he concluded.

The Permanent Representative of Bolivia, Diego Pary, on behalf of the member states of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), recounted how Bolivar fulfilled the promise of achieving the freedom and independence of the people, so in his view, it is "a duty to defend his legacy and promote further integration." He quoted the words of Bolívar, stating that "The most perfect system of government is that which produces the greatest amount of happiness possible, the greatest amount of social security and the greatest amount of political stability," and analyzed that "this is a very valuable message easily applied to the current context." Ambassador Pary added that democracy cannot be seen only from a political perspective, but it must be linked to the quality of life of our populations. "To follow the vision and philosophy of our liberators, the people of the Americas must forge greater integration and unity in diversity, and strengthen our solidarity for justice and social inclusion," he said.

The Alternate Representative of the United States, Lawrence Gumbiner, said that "Bolivar, the father of democracy for many nations around this table, and his dream of leaving a lasting impact on the region and many of the ideals and principles that he sought are alive and well here at the OAS," adding that one of his greatest legacies was having planted "the seed of democracy." "As a relatively new concept for our region, Bolivar understood that democracy had be supported and institutionalized in order to survive and prosper. Bolívar would value and appreciate that the OAS is fully involved in advancing the political and technical work necessary to build strong institutions that protect the rights of the peoples of the Hemisphere," he said.

The protocolary session of the OAS Permanent Council was preceded by a ceremony in which several OAS Permanent Representatives placed a floral offering in front of the statue of the Liberator Simon Bolivar in Washington, DC.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

The video of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-281/13