Guyana’s Ambassador engages Latvia Foreign Minister on UNSG bid

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has engaged Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, as part of her ongoing outreach in support of her candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary General.

According to a post by the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the UN, Rodrigues-Birkett met with Braže on Wednesday to discuss her candidacy and vision for the world body.
During the engagement, Rodrigues-Birkett outlined her vision for a more agile, efficient and effective UN, while also hearing Latvia’s views and priorities on the future direction of the organisation.
The Ambassador said she welcomed the opportunity to engage with the Latvian Foreign Minister and looked forward to continuing discussions with Latvia and other UN Member States.
She said these engagements were part of efforts to work collectively towards building a stronger UN for present and future generations.
President Dr Irfaan Ali in June nominated Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett to succeed the UN’s current SG, António Guterres, whose tenure ends on December 31, 2026.
Ali stated that Rodrigues-Birkett brings the depth of experience the office demands. She has served as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN since 2020 and led the country’s participation during its historic Security Council tenure.
Days after the endorsement, she presented her “practical and realistic” vision for the UN should she be appointed to the helm of the 193-member body.
She pointed out that there was a growing sense of frustration that the UN was not delivering as it should despite Member States’ strong commitment to make the body “truly fit for purpose”.
Among the areas she outlined that needed focus were the sloth of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as well as reforms aimed at strengthening the UN’s work, especially as it relates to addressing global conflicts.
She further underscored the need for the UN to do things differently and better for the future, including improving efficiencies in the secretariat as well as how the organisation treats mandates and its structural alignment – all of which she noted would have a positive impact system-wide.
She had told the General Assembly that if appointed to the post, she would work hand in hand with the 193 Member States of the organisation and its staff, as well as in partnership with regional and sub-regional organisations, civil society, and other stakeholders to achieve the shared objectives.
Five official candidates are running to succeed Guterres as the next UNSG, whose five-year term begins on January 1, 2027. According to the UN, the SG is appointed by the 193-member General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. While the 15-member Council and particularly its five permanent members, who may veto any candidate, play a decisive role in shaping the recommendation, the appointment is ultimately made by the Assembly. In the 80 years since the founding of the UN, there have been nine SGs, but a woman has never held the post. If successful, Rodrigues-Birkett would make history as the first woman ever elected to serve as SG of the UN since the organisation was established in 1945. She would also be the first Caribbean national to hold the position. Prior to her current post, Rodrigues-Birkett served as Director of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Liaison Office in Geneva from 2017 to 2020. She previously served as Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2015 and as Minister of Amerindian Affairs from 2001 to 2008.