Audrey Marks, Chair of the OAS Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the OAS October 1, 2020 /  Washington DC  /  Credit: Juan Manuel Herrera/OAS  

DIPLOMATIC   TIMES  STAFF

Ambassador Audrey Marks,   the Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Organization of American States (OAS), Thursday assumed the Chair of the Permanent Council for the next three months, during which the 50th General Assembly of the Organization will be held.  Ambassador Marks said “we are living in difficult times,” in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects “small and large” and “rich and poor” countries equally.

“I look forward to working with all delegations over the next three months, especially as we prepare for the upcoming 50th regular session of the General Assembly in a spirit of dialogue, consultation and agreeing to disagree when situations so demand.”

-Ambassador Audrey Marks,  Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the OAS

For his part, the Permanent Representative of Honduras and outgoing Chair of the Council, Luis Cordero, said that during his term “we strengthened multilateralism every day and we made sure that the four pillars of the OAS continue to be fulfilled in the best way possible.” “During these three months of our term we managed to advance in the preparations for the 50th General Assembly, I can assure you that we will have a very beneficial and successful Assembly,” added the Honduran diplomat.

The Permanent Representative of The Bahamas, Sidney Collie, will serve as Vice Chair of the Council.

H.E. Audrey Marks is Jamaica’s thirteenth Ambassador to the United States of America 

(wiredja.com/  Audrey Marks, Chair of the OAS Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the OAS

H.E. Audrey Marks is Jamaica’s thirteenth Ambassador to the United States of America and the Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Organization of American States (OAS).   Ambassador Marks assumed duties at the Embassy in Washington, D.C. on September 12, 2016. She previously served in the same capacity for two (2) years from 2010 – 2012, thereby creating history by being the first Jamaican female Ambassador to the USA, and also the first Ambassador to be assigned to the same Post twice.

Prior to assuming her Ambassadorial role, Ambassador Marks, an entrepreneur by profession, started and operated six previous businesses, including a 100-acre banana exporting farm, a transportation company, as well as a real estate sales and development company. She also operated a Venture Capital Company with diverse investments, including manufacturing, travel and entertainment. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, and Nova University, Florida, USA, respectively.