Carolyn Rodrigues for UN Secretary General: I endorse

Jun 16, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

Hard truths by GHK Lall…

(Kaieteur News) – Way to go, Excellency Ali. Excellency Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is Guyana’s nominee for the prestigious and demanding role of United Nations Secretary General. Why not? Since everybody globally have their eyes on a wedge of Guyana’s riches, here’s an opportunity to do some horse-trading. A vote for Excellency Rodrigues-Birkett is a favorable ballot cast for a portion of Guyana’s patrimony.

There is plenty to share around. The Ali government can be depended upon to be generous. Recall that politics, whether at the bottom-house level or the rooftops of the world is about quid pro quos (something for something). A fair bargain, I say. Depending on what is gotten for what is given away.

The Guyana Government (PPP) may not like Guyanese born Dr. Arif Bulkan in the role of CCJ jurist. Is reported to have stood in the way of his ascending to another role in Europe, that was a tribute to his perspicacity and sagacity. Indeed, his mind and the manner in which he employs it will always be two perennial bestsellers.

The hope is that I am getting through to Excellency, Dr. Ali, Guyana’s president. Call of the curs, sir. Vehemence in politics is pardonable. Up to a point only. But the PPP’s thirst for vengeance and the vindictiveness and viciousness that must accompany it to reinforce should have no place in Guyana’s politics. Let that be monopolized by Donald Trump. Let him have exclusive rights to those depraved standards.

If Guyana is ever going to come within 100 miles of One Guyana, then PPP savagery against Dr. Arif Bulkan should not be. Who are the haters now, if not the PPP? But there is Excellency Rodrigues-Birkett whose name is now entered in the UN Sec Gen race. I support her nomination for several reasons. Notwithstanding her former flair for table-climbing, political gyrating, and other such entertaining antics. What is past is past. There is her nomination to which I lend my voice.

First, she is Guyanese. Two, she is female -would make a groundbreaking Secretary General. There is a female CARICOM Secretary General, Excellency Carla Barnett. There was a woman Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Janet Scotland. Excellency Rodrigues-Birkett is Guyanese, a woman, and third she is also of indigenous heritage. She is also fairly astute. Politically. Recall how she praised former U.S. Ambassador Brendt Hardt (another devout Roman Catholic), days before her sister ministers in the PPP scorched him with a so-called feral blast, and in his castle of all places. An unbeatable combination; a winner for whom I would vote eight days in every week. It’s the way that the PPP has practiced voting, isn’t it? After all the horrors that the Spaniards, Dutch, French, British (and now Americans) inflicted upon the Incas, Aztecs, Caribs, Arawaks, and other indigenous peoples native to this hemisphere, it is time for some leveling of the scales, an executive and administrative repatriation of sorts.

The U.S. has a big say, holds a significant amount of sway in things of this nature (like it does with the ICJ), and it is a special friend of Guyana. So, I am counting for the U.S. to favor Sister Carolyn. China is a partner, ally, and fellow traveler alongside Guyana. Thus, nothing prevents that superpower from the Orient to throw-down with thumbs up for Guyana’s choice for UN SG. It should be a lock. Naturally, it depends on what Guyana is offering in return. Get real, Guyanese. Welcome to the real world. Pres. Ali has made his name (such as it is) as a willing soldier when it comes to deal making. This is his big opportunity to give a big hand up to Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. She can depend on him. I am.

In the spirit of One Guyana, I urge all Guyanese to rally behind Excellency Rodrigues-Birkett’s nomination. Let us all show Pres. Ali, and the PPP, how it’s done. Politics is cast out. Bygone be bygone. If only Guyana worked like this, Guyanese thought like this. What could be a better manifestation of Essequibo belongs to Guyana, Essequibo is OURS! Where is Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett from if not the storied shores of Essequibo. She is ours. Therefore, the UN SG job should be hers. Whoever seeks to do business here better get that right.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Arif Bulkan, Carolyn Rodrigues, GHK Lall, UN Secretary General

Latest News