As the 81st United Nations General Assembly General Debate enters its final stretch in Manhattan, New York, member nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have come together to publicly reaffirm their unified support for Guyana’s top UN diplomat, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, as the bloc’s official candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.
Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy dates back to July of this year, when CARICOM heads of government formally gave their collective endorsement shortly after Guyana officially nominated her for the role. With a long career in public service, she currently holds the position of Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and previously served as her country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. This background, regional leaders argue, has equipped her with the deep understanding of global development challenges needed to lead the UN effectively.
Multiple CARICOM leaders used their speaking time at the General Debate on September 25 to voice their public backing. Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Hanley of St. Kitts and Nevis emphasized that his nation was proud to stand alongside CARICOM in endorsing Rodrigues-Birkett. He highlighted that her experience as an Indigenous woman from a small developing state brings a much-needed perspective to global leadership, pushing back against the unspoken norm that top UN roles must be held by representatives of large, powerful nations.
“Global leadership should never be determined by the geographic size or economic weight of a country,” Hanley noted, adding that Rodrigues-Birkett’s deep grasp of the unique struggles facing developing nations is exactly the kind of leadership the UN requires in this current era.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley echoed this sentiment during her address, framing the endorsement as a step toward renewing global faith in multilateral cooperation. “At a moment when the international community is being called upon to renew its faith in multilateralism, we believe that Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett brings to this task the experience, the skills and the understanding to serve the entire membership of this organisation,” Mottley stated.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia also added his voice to the chorus of support, while discussing the outgoing tenure of current Secretary-General António Guterres. “Saint Lucia wishes to express its endorsement of the candidate of the Republic of Guyana, Miss Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, for the post of Secretary-General,” Pierre said, pointing to her decades-long record of distinguished public and international service. He also reaffirmed Saint Lucia’s commitment to working alongside aligned nations to push for much-needed internal reforms within the United Nations.
In addition to these three leaders, The Bahamas and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have also formally backed Rodrigues-Birkett, aligning with CARICOM’s collective endorsement of her candidacy.
The race for UN Secretary-General comes as Guterres’s term concludes at the end of this year, and the selection process has drawn close international attention. If elected, Rodrigues-Birkett would make history as the first Caribbean national to ever hold the top UN post. However, her candidacy is not without controversy: media reports have indicated that the United States may oppose her nomination due to Guyana’s current diplomatic stance on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
The 81st United Nations General Assembly General Debate is scheduled to conclude on September 28, the same day this announcement was made public.