In the race to succeed Secretary-General António Guterres, Guyana has nominated our Permanent Representative to the UN for the position. This reflects both our country’s growing diplomatic profile and a broader desire for change within the UN. Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett, a former Foreign Minister who served on the UN Security Council, enters the contest at a time when the world body’s capacity to meet the challenges of an increasingly divided international order is being questioned.
However, the organization is likely to remain a central pillar of world affairs in the years ahead, not because it possesses extraordinary power, but because no alternative institution exists with comparable global reach and legitimacy. In a world marked by geopolitical rivalry, climate change, humanitarian crises, migration pressures, and emerging technologies, governments still require a forum where nearly every nation has a seat at the table.
The UN’s role is therefore likely to remain what it has long been: a convener, coordinator, and mediator. It will continue to facilitate diplomacy, support humanitarian operations, promote sustainable development, and provide a framework for international cooperation. These functions may not generate headlines in the way military alliances or great-power confrontations do, but they remain essential to global stability.
Yet the organization’s limitations are equally clear. The greatest obstacle to UN effectiveness is not bureaucratic inefficiency, although that certainly exists. It is the reality of great-power politics. The Security Council’s permanent members—the US, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France—retain veto authority, ensuring that the UN can act decisively only when their interests broadly align. When those powers disagree, paralysis often follows. No Secretary-General, regardless of talent or determination, can eliminate that structural constraint.
This reality should shape expectations about what any future UN leader can achieve. Meaningful reform is possible, but revolutionary change is not. The next Secretary-General is more likely to succeed by improving administration, strengthening coordination among agencies, increasing transparency, and enhancing the organization’s responsiveness to crises than by attempting to rewrite the rules of international politics. That is where Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy deserves serious consideration.
Her background combines experience in diplomacy, government, and multilateral institutions. As Guyana’s ambassador to the UN and a former foreign minister, she understands both the concerns of developing countries and the practical realities of international negotiations. Coming from a small state may also prove advantageous. Candidates from major powers can sometimes face suspicion from rival governments; candidates from smaller nations are often seen as more neutral brokers.
Rodrigues-Birkett has emphasized multilateralism, climate action, inclusion, and institutional effectiveness. These priorities align with many of the issues likely to dominate the UN agenda over the next decade. Climate change, in particular, poses an existential challenge for many developing countries, and leaders from smaller states have often been among the strongest advocates for urgent international action.
At the same time, we should avoid overstating what her election could accomplish. Even the most capable Secretary-General operates within narrow political boundaries. Success depends less on issuing directives than on persuading governments, building coalitions, and maintaining dialogue among states with competing interests. The office derives influence from diplomacy and credibility rather than executive authority.
Within those constraints, the evidence suggests that Rodrigues-Birkett could improve the organization’s functioning. Her experience demonstrates a capacity for consensus-building and a practical understanding of how international institutions operate. She can be a skilled manager, diplomat, and advocate capable of making an imperfect institution work more effectively.
Whether Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett ultimately becomes Secretary-General remains uncertain. The selection process is heavily influenced by the Security Council, where geopolitical considerations often outweigh regional aspirations. Strong competitors from other regions are also seeking support. Nevertheless, her candidacy highlights an important truth about the future of the UN: its effectiveness will not depend on dramatic constitutional changes or sweeping declarations but on steady leadership, patient diplomacy, and realistic reforms that strengthen its ability to serve member states.
In an era of growing international tension, that may be the most valuable form of progress available—and perhaps the most realistic measure of success.