Editorial | Support Guyana’s UN candidate

With the United Nations Security Council now in consultations to select the organisation’s next secretary-general, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states must step up their efforts on behalf of the region’s candidate, Guyanese Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.

Thus far, Ms Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s permanent representative to the UN, appears to be the better liked of the candidates among the wider global community and, by inference, within at least a plurality of the General Assembly. But, where the selection of the secretary general matters most, among the 15 members of the Security Council, she marginally trails the Costa Rican diplomat and former vice-president, Rebeca Grynspan.

In a secret straw poll among Security Council members at the end of last month to test their initial reactions to the eight candidates, five of whom are women, Grynspan secured 10 “encourage” votes, four “no opinion” votes, and one “discourage” vote. Ms Rodrigues-Birkett received nine “encourage” votes, two “discourage” votes, and four “no opinion” votes.

The front-runners were followed by Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Argentine diplomat who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with seven “encourage” votes, two “discourage” votes, and six “no opinion” votes.

Notably, at an earlier candidates’ debate at the General Assembly, which was also broadcast digitally, 49 per cent of those present felt that Rodrigues-Birkett was the most effective presenter, placing her decisively ahead of her competitors. Indeed, Ms Grynspan was second with a mere 14 per cent of the votes.

“The global landscape has changed, and the tools required to guide the organisation must likewise evolve,” Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett told the audience about her perspective on the global environment and how it would inform her leadership of the UN. She said she would be “principled, pragmatic and responsive to the needs of the organisation”, improving how it functions while remaining faithful to the UN’s founding principles.

BROAD SENTIMENT

Seeming broad sentiment in favour of Ms Rodrigues-Birkett notwithstanding, it is the support of the Security Council, particularly its five permanent members, the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France, that is decisive. While the General Assembly formally elects the secretary general, it does so on the basis of a candidate recommended by the Security Council.

In that regard, securing the backing of all the permanent members is crucial. Support from a majority of members can come to nought if a permanent member decides to exercise its veto against the preferred candidate.

The Security Council will continue the straw polls, prompting less favoured candidates to drop out of the race, before moving to the phase in which signals will be given to the remaining candidates about who is likely to attract sufficient support. When a candidate receives nine votes, or 60 per cent of the council’s membership, and assurance that none of the Permanent 5 (P5) will exercise a veto, the Security Council will formally pass a resolution recommending the new secretary general, leading to a vote in the General Assembly.

The current process could continue into November before the term of the incumbent secretary general, António Guterres, ends in December. The new UN head will take office in January 2027.

ENSURE

Guyana and its CARICOM partners, which endorsed Ms Rodrigues-Birkett after the community’s July summit in St Lucia, will have to ensure not only that she is persuasive to the majority, but also that none of the P5 finds her objectionable.

Antigua and Barbuda had initially joined Ecuador in nominating the former Ecuadorian politician and diplomat María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés for the top UN job, but Caribbean officials say this was not a case of St John’s reneging on, or deciding against, support for a regional candidate. Antigua and Barbuda’s endorsement of Ms Espinosa Garcés came at a time when it appeared that the Caribbean wouldn’t have a candidate in the race, after years-long attempts from several quarters to persuade Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley to enter the contest gained no traction.

St John’s did not withdraw its endorsement of Ms Espinosa Garcés but joined CARICOM in its public declaration of support for Rodrigues-Birkett.

If Ms Rodrigues-Birkett becomes the UN chief, she would be the first woman and the first Caribbean national to hold the job. She would assume the post at a difficult time for the organisation, which faces financial constraints and a waning commitment to multilateralism among some global powers, especially the United States.

The US has cut financing to several UN bodies, forcing the organisation to reduce its budget by up to 15 per cent this year and take measures to conserve cash. The UN is also cutting around 2,600 jobs, or 19 per cent of its workforce, while relocating some employees to less expensive cities.

The situation will demand considerable administrative skill and diplomacy from Ms Rodrigues-Birkett. The Gleaner does not question her possession of those talents.