Deborah-Mae Lovell, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador/ Permanent Representative [view photo]

At an all night session of the Organization of American States, Her Excellency, Deborah-Mae Lovell, Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador/ Permanent Representative to the OAS joined her colleagues from the hemisphere in crafting a resolution that puts pressure on the illegal regime in Honduras.

At the 27th Special Session of the OAS General Assembly, convened to debate the political crisis in Honduras, delegations through Resolution AG/RES (XXXVII-E/09) not only condemned the coup d'etat and reaffirmed that President Manuel Zelaya to be the legitimate president, but also gave the illegal regime an ultimatum. That is, to restore the constitutional order within 72 hours or face the threat of expulsion from the hemispheric body.

During the marathon negotiating session, Ambassador Lovell was able to greet the Foreign Affairs Minister of Honduras, Patricia Rodas, who was in attendance at the meeting and who had earlier been freed by kidnappers, to assure her of Antigua and Barbuda's support for the constitutional process in her country. At the plenary of the Assembly, President Zelaya was given a standing ovation before taking the opportunity of giving an account of his ordeal last Sunday.

Ambassador Lovell said that in keeping with the commitment of Antigua and Barbuda as expressed by the Prime Minister, the Hon. Baldwin Spencer, every effort is been made to ensure the return of legal order in the sister state of the hemisphere and the restitution to office of the legitimate president, Manuel Zelaya.