Mr. Imran Best – Barbados (2021)

I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to intern at OPANAL for the past five months. It was an educative experience in which I was able to improve my knowledge on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation affairs through daily tasks at the headquarters and also through my participation in the Summer School hosted by OPANAL, SRE and the Monterey Institute. Working at OPANAL allowed me the opportunity to learn of the role that the Agency has in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean, and also the critical role the Agency plays in disarmament affairs throughout the world. Additionally, working with the team at OPANAL allowed me the opportunity to improve both my language and cross-cultural communication skills due to interactions with many people throughout the region.

I look forward to taking this experience with me in my future endeavours where I can share what I have learnt with those beyond the region of Latin America and the Caribbean so that the global initiative for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation can be shared and fortified. 

Ms. Aaliyah Lightburn – Belize (2018)

I am sincerely honoured to have been selected as the recipient of the Internship Program of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. I understand the problems of the world can never be solved by the launching of nuclear weapons, the future depends on our actions now. Concerning nuclear disarmament, I desire to focus on nuclear-weapon-free zones because is urgently important to public health. I promise I will work very hard and in time I will give something back to others in my country: Haiti.

I thank the Netherlands for its generosity because I am the first Haitian in the Internship Program of OPANAL. Thank you for considering my application, I am now one step closer to achieving my goal. This internship will make a significant positive impact on my ability to continue to help my country: Haiti.

Mr. Jeff Desir – Haiti (2017)

The Internship Program of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) has been a truly rewarding experience. It certainly afforded me the opportunity to be part of the remarkable work which the Agency has undertaken in recent times with respect to nuclear disarmament initiatives, not only to ensure the safety of the Latin America and Caribbean region, but the rest of the world. It was even more rewarding to be part of the team in the year the Agency celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Tlatelolco; a momentous occasion to celebrate the successes of the Agency and reflect on the journey ahead. More importantly, it is the year when the world’s first legally-binding treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons opened for signature. The internship programme provided the opportunity to learn more about the challenges and advances with respect to nuclear disarmament and how States can contribute towards achieving and maintaining a world free of nuclear weapons. We all can play an integral role in achieving this goal.

Mr. Carlton Henry – Saint Lucia (2017)

My time spent in Mexico can be deemed as a truly challenging but yet rewarding experience. I am appreciative of the knowledge acquired at OPANAL, the lessons learnt and the friendships formed with both the Staff of the Secretariat and other Member States. I can personally attest to the fact that had I not left Guyana some of the challenges experienced in Mexico would never have molded my character and personality. Thank you for selecting me to be a participant of the Internship Program. As you prepare for the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, it is my hope that both the events planned will be successful and well attended, especially by the Caribbean Member States. I will try my best upon my return home to advocate for Guyana’s participation at the Ministerial level.

Ms. Tabitha Barnwell – Guyana (2016)

Jamaica’s participation in the internship program reflects the mutually supportive relationship between Jamaica and OPANAL in advancing their common goal i.e. general and complete disarmament, in pursuit of regional and international peace and security.

The Government of Jamaica is pleased to note that Ms. [Tamara] Taylor made a valuable contribution to the work of OPANAL and is grateful to the Agency, and also to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, for affording her this opportunity. The Government of Jamaica is confident Ms Taylor’s experience at the Agency will redound to the benefit of Jamaica’s work on the disarmament agenda.

Jamaican Foreign Service (2016)