Guyana’s Ambassador vows to be ‘neutral broker’ if elected as next UN Secretary General

Guyana’s candidate for United Nations Secretary General, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has outlined her approach to the position, saying she would seek to serve as a neutral broker when differences among Security Council members prevent action.

Rodrigues-Birkett made the comments during an interview with Mark Leon Goldberg on the Global Dispatches podcast, where she discussed her candidacy, her experience on the UN Security Council and her vision for the organisation if elected.
The Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations shared the interview on its social media page.
Rodrigues-Birkett, who served as Guyana’s Ambassador to the UN while the country was an elected member of the Security Council in 2024 and 2025, said that experience influenced her decision to put herself forward for the Secretary General position.
“There’s always space for the Secretary General,” she said, explaining that the office could play a role as a neutral voice when differences arise among Security Council members.
She said her experience on the Council allowed her to see both what the body can accomplish and the role the Secretary General could play when the Council is unable to reach agreement.
Rodrigues-Birkett recalled an instance during Guyana’s tenure on the Council when members held different positions on a matter involving a country experiencing significant suffering.
She said she and her team engaged with the different sides, sought to understand their positions and highlighted the potential consequences of inaction for the affected population.
According to Rodrigues-Birkett, the effort eventually contributed to a resolution being adopted by the Council after several months.
She said the experience reflected the approach she had taken throughout her public service career, including her time as Foreign Minister and Minister of Amerindian Affairs.
“Keeping one’s eye on the big picture, on the objective, how we can help people,” she said, adding that this would also guide her approach as Secretary General.
Rodrigues-Birkett said a person seeking the Secretary General position must be prepared to put their ego aside.
“One has to leave their ego at the door when you decide to put yourself forward for Secretary General and when you’re the Secretary General,” she said.
She acknowledged that the position would involve challenges and disagreements but said progress could still be achieved through engagement.

Understanding context of each conflict
On conflict resolution, Rodrigues-Birkett said an effective approach requires understanding the context of each conflict, the parties involved and those who have influence over them, while also taking geopolitical considerations into account.
She noted that the Security Council currently has about 38 active files, with some conflicts presenting greater geopolitical challenges than others.
Rather than prioritising one conflict over another, she said she would take a broad view of the situations where UN intervention could make a difference.
Rodrigues-Birkett also pointed to countries that have emerged from conflict with the support of UN peacekeeping missions and have since moved towards democracy, stability and development.
She said she wanted to see more of this work by the UN.
The Guyanese diplomat also stressed the importance of conflict prevention, saying the Secretary General should be proactive and pragmatic in identifying opportunities to intervene before conflicts escalate.
She said that while many people view the Secretary General and the UN primarily through the lens of peace and security, the organisation also has responsibilities in development and human rights.
However, she noted that the number of conflicts globally has increased significantly and that populations are looking to the UN to help address those crises.
Rodrigues-Birkett said that, if appointed, she would seek to meet with people directly involved in conflicts and those working on the ground before determining where the organisation could make interventions.
She also acknowledged that some important situations may not be on the Security Council’s formal agenda, reinforcing the need for the Secretary General to look beyond the Council’s existing files and focus on prevention.
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.

“Practical and realistic” vision
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.