Guyanese diplomat Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is emerging as a serious contender to become the next United Nations secretary-general, potentially making history as both the first Caribbean national and the first woman to hold the organization’s top post.
Rodrigues-Birkett placed second among seven candidates in a recent informal Security Council poll, receiving nine “encourage” votes, two “discourage” votes and four expressions of no opinion, according to a Guardian profile materially updated Thursday. Costa Rican candidate Rebeca Grynspan remained ahead.
The confidential straw polls are indicators rather than binding votes. The Security Council must ultimately recommend a candidate to the General Assembly, and any of the council’s five permanent members can block a contender during the selection process. Another poll is expected near the end of August.
Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s permanent representative to the U.N., grew up in the Indigenous Arawak community of Santa Rosa. She previously worked as a teacher before entering public service, becoming minister of Amerindian affairs at 27 and later serving as foreign minister.
Her candidacy has received the full endorsement of Caribbean Community leaders. In July, CARICOM heads described the selection as especially important amid mounting international crises and committed to coordinated support for her campaign.
Rodrigues-Birkett has emphasized climate finance, improved access to development funding and institutional reform. She has argued that small and developing states are frequently denied meaningful access to resources because of complex eligibility rules and administrative requirements.
