Organization of American States (OAS)

The OAS brings together leaders from nations across the Americas to address hemispheric issues and opportunities. Together, they seek to build cooperation among states and advance a common regional agenda on democratic governance, human rights, multidimensional security, and sustainable development.

TOPIC A: The Haitian Security Crisis

Haiti has long been the poorest and most underdeveloped country in the Western Hemisphere. Adding to the dismal economic situation, Haiti also has a history of unstable political leadership. In 2021, Haiti’s president Jovenel Moise, who had extended his presidential term past the legal limit, was assassinated. In the aftermath of the assassination, gangs took over much of Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince. Since then, the gangs have clashed with the Haitian National Police, but the police are weak and have had little success. As a result, vigilante groups have emerged, and in one instance in 2023, one such group overran the National Police and burned 14 suspected gang members alive. It is the task of the OAS delegates to determine how best to restore security and political order to Haiti.

Topic B: The Venezuela-Guyana border dispute

The Venezuela–Guyana border dispute is a long-standing territorial dispute over the Essequibo region, which is controlled by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela. The dispute has roots in the 19th century when Guyana was under colonial rule. Over the past couple of centuries, though Venezuela has continued to contend its sovereignty over the region, the international community has recognized Essequibo as belonging to Guyana, and Venezuela never took offensive action to assert its sovereignty. In December 2023, however, Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro Moros issued a referendum, which would annex Essequibo as a Venezuelan state, garnering significant reaction among the international community and escalating the issue. It is the task of the OAS delegates to determine how to best address this border dispute, while charting a path forward.

meet your chairs!

chair: Daniel Zayas

dz7223@princeton.edu

Daniel is a junior in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and is minoring in Latin American studies. He is from Atlanta, GA. Aside from competing on the Princeton Model UN Team, Daniel writes for the Princeton Legal Journal, serves as a mentor for a local middle school academic program, and works at the McGraw Center as an academic life and learning consultant. In his free time, Daniel enjoys working out, reading, and spending time with family. Daniel is excited to chair the Organization of American States at PMUNC 2024.