Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has ability, integrity to lead UN – Caricom

…says time for Latin America, Caribbean to lead

Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government have reaffirmed their full support for Guyana’s nominee, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, for the position of United Nations Secretary General (UNSG), as Latin American and Caribbean countries press for the region to have the opportunity to lead the global organisation.
At their 44th Intersessional Meeting on October 23, Caricom leaders took note of developments in the ongoing selection process and reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism based on the UN Charter and international law.
In a statement issued by the Caricom Secretariat on Wednesday, the regional leaders said they have confidence in Rodrigues-Birkett’s ability and integrity to lead the United Nations at a time of global challenges and calls for institutional reform.
They pointed to her more than two decades of experience in field work, legislation, politics, diplomacy and international civil service, as well as her skills in diplomacy, consensus building and advancing change.
Caricom also reaffirmed its decision to fully endorse Rodrigues-Birkett, a former Foreign Affairs Minister of Guyana and the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
President Dr Irfaan Ali announced Guyana’s decision to seek the UNSG position in June and nominated Rodrigues-Birkett for the post.

Regional rotation
The regional endorsement comes as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) countries, including Guyana, intensify their call for the principle of regional rotation to be respected in the selection of the next UNSG
Members of CELAC held a joint media stakeout at the UN Headquarters on Tuesday, calling on the Security Council to respect the informal practice of regional rotation in selecting the organisation’s next leader.
The countries pointed to the selection of UNSGs since 1981, noting that, apart from a disruption in 2016, the practice has seen the position rotate among different regions.
Based on that practice, the Latin America and Caribbean region should be next in line to provide the UNSG.
The argument centres on the view that regional rotation, whether formally or informally applied, provides greater predictability and helps safeguard the right of all UN Member States to seek membership of UN bodies and serve in positions within the organisation.
Rotation also helps prevent key positions from being concentrated among a particular Member State or group of states and supports the principle of sovereign equality among UN members.
CELAC members argued that this is particularly relevant when considering how senior positions and vacancies in the organisation’s principal organs are filled.
The issue was also raised by Caricom Heads of Government, who recalled the September 21 Declaration of CELAC Foreign Ministers on the selection process for the next Secretary General.
Caricom called on the UN Security Council and General Assembly to uphold equitable geographical balance and honour the practice of regional rotation in the selection process.
The regional grouping said the principle was particularly important for small states seeking to contribute to the work of the UN, including through appointments to the organisation’s highest offices.
“Accordingly, they shared the view that it is now time for a national of Latin America and the Caribbean to assume the mantle of leadership of the organisation,” the Caricom statement said.
Caricom also recognised the support extended to candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean and expressed appreciation for the support received by Rodrigues-Birkett.
The grouping said the selection of a Caricom woman as Secretary General would mark a new chapter for the United Nations and the wider world.
Rodrigues-Birkett is among several candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean seeking the position. Other candidates include former Chilean President and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet; former President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador; International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi of Argentina; UN Trade and Development Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica; and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.

Huge accomplishment for region
Caricom Deputy Secretary General Dr Armstrong Alexis had previously described Guyana’s bid as an important opportunity for the Caribbean to strengthen its presence internationally.
“If we succeed in electing a Caricom national as the Secretary General of the United Nations, that is going to be a huge accomplishment for this region,” Alexis said during the Caricom Heads of Government meeting in St Lucia in July.
He also pointed to Suriname’s Ambassador Albert Ramdin becoming Secretary General of the Organisation of American States as another development reflecting the Caribbean’s growing presence in international institutions.
The tenure of current UNSG António Guterres ends on December 31, 2026.
The selection process is therefore taking place against a backdrop of competing candidates and a wider regional push for the Latin America and Caribbean bloc to have its turn at the helm of the United Nations.