The Latin American Reflection Roundtable, echoing and in support of the statements of Latin American former Presidents, former Foreign Ministers and former Ministers of State, has convened a large and diverse group of personalities from Latin America and the Caribbean, who sign this document. The signatories propose the postponement of the election of the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), scheduled for September of this year, as it is a process that has caused notable and justified concern across the continent and that takes place at a time of a real global crisis due to COVID-19.
This declaration offers a viable and constructive way out of the legitimate concerns about the institution's future. It responds to the shared conviction that the election of the IDB authorities must be preceded by an urgent deliberation on its role in an inter-American system deeply disrupted by un unprecedented health emergency and its economic, political, social, environmental, and cultural consequences.
The Americas are still suffering the devastating impact of COVID-19 in multiple dimensions and there are several months to go before this deadly pandemic may be overcome. These are times of uncertainty about when and how Latin America and the Caribbean will be able to undertake the difficult and formidable task of an inclusive reconstruction of its social and economic fabric.
