Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett says family talks and capital visits will shape her bid for UN secretary-general

Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s nominee for United Nations secretary-general, told attendees at a public question-and-answer session that she consulted family members before deciding to run and will visit capitals as part of a campaign to secure support. "It is not a decision that I make on my own," Rodrigues-Birkett said, adding that she had spoken with her father and her children.

Rodrigues-Birkett, who said she had "just completed the interactive session with member states of the United Nations," rejected the idea that her candidacy was a late entry. "I do not consider it ... to be a late entrance. In fact, it's still open for candidates, and we could very well see more candidates coming forward," she said, adding that she planned to do "a lot of work here in New York, but a lot of work in capitals, as well." The ambassador emphasized her years in foreign and humanitarian affairs and five years of service at the UN, including recent work in the Security Council, as reasons colleagues encouraged her to run.

When asked whether other countries' auditions influenced her decision, Rodrigues-Birkett said the Security Council and the wider membership should be able to consider many candidates. "I think that the region that I come from, Latin America and the Caribbean, we have a lot of people that are qualified to enter this race," she said, framing her campaign as part of broader regional representation.

Ambassador Henry Ford, identifying himself as representing News Guyana, asked whether the campaign would raise Guyana's profile. Rodrigues-Birkett said Guyana had "always made its voice heard" at the UN and acknowledged that her candidacy would likely attract additional attention to her country.

Rodrigues-Birkett closed by reiterating that encouragement from colleagues and her experience in international civil service motivated her to seek the post. The session ended with a brief audience reaction; no formal vote or decision was recorded in the transcript. Rodrigues-Birkett said next steps would include continued outreach to member states and visits to capitals to build support.