Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett pledges allegiance to UN Charter in Secretary-General bid

Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s candidate for the United Nations Secretary-General position, has stated that her primary allegiance would be to the UN Charter and international law. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in the United Arab Emirates, Rodrigues-Birkett addressed the challenge of representing both developed and developing nations.

She emphasized that the Secretary-General must represent all 193 member states, noting that while many nations are small, global challenges such as climate change affect all countries regardless of size. She argued that large and small nations are interdependent in addressing these shared issues.

Supporters have highlighted her candidacy as a significant opportunity for the Global South, noting her background in the Indigenous Lokono community and her experience as Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Her candidacy is viewed by proponents as a push for more representative international institutions that address issues like climate vulnerability, debt, and food insecurity.