SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – A key milestone in Central American regional cooperation has concluded, as the Dominican Republic wrapped up its fourth term as Pro Tempore President of the Central American Integration System (SICA), leaving behind a trail of measurable institutional and operational advances that aim to lift outcomes for all member nations across the bloc.
The formal handover of the rotating leadership position took place on El Salvadoran soil, where Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez outlined the core progress achieved during his country’s tenure. Among the most significant changes was the approval of updated regulatory frameworks that restructure how SICA’s governing bodies handle new member integration and establish clearer quorum requirements for official proceedings. These rule updates are explicitly designed to cut through bureaucratic bottlenecks, streamline decision-making workflows, and boost the overall institutional efficiency of the 70-year-old regional organization.
Álvarez also highlighted the confirmation of Costa Rican Ambassador Lina Eugenia Ajoy Rojas as SICA’s incoming Secretary General, set to serve the 2026–2030 term. He framed this leadership appointment as a critical step to secure long-term continuity and political stability for the regional integration process, a core mandate that has guided SICA’s work since its founding.
Following the presentation of achievements, Álvarez formally transferred the ceremonial and administrative authority of the rotating Pro Tempore Presidency to Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño. Briceño opened his term by commending the Dominican Republic’s steady, forward-focused leadership during its presidency, and pledged that his administration would build on existing momentum to deepen collaborative work across the region on shared economic, social, and security priorities.
Before the official transfer ceremony got underway, Álvarez called on all attendees to observe a moment of silence to honor the lives lost to the recent devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela, a gesture that united the regional delegation in solidarity with the South American nation during a period of crisis.