Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is now leading the race for the Secretary General position, according to the second straw poll conducted by the UN Security Council.

Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett is among eight candidates vying for the position of Secretary General.

According to the results from today’s informal poll, eight council members encouraged Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett’s appointment; three members discouraged it, and four had no opinion.

Following closely behind was former Costa Rican Vice President, Rebeca Grynspan, who topped the first straw poll. Seven of the council members supported Grynspan’s appointment, while four did not and four had no opinion.

The other candidates are Ivonne A-Baki of Ecuador, who entered the race for the top UN position on August 17; Michelle Bachelet Jeria of Chile; Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces of Ecuador; Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina; Olara Otunnu of Uganda; and Macky Sall of Senegal.

According to the UN Security Council, the straw polls are informal ballots used to determine the viability of Secretary-General candidates. The candidates in the running for the UN top job have been meeting with the Security Council and facing questions.

In a recent interview with Mark Leon of Goldberg of the Global Dispatches podcast, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said having served on the UN Security Council, she believes she has what it takes to advance discussions and break gridlocks should she be appointed to the top UN position.

“There is always space for the Secretary-General, and I am of the view when there are differences, there is always space among member states of the security council that the Secretary General has a good opportunity to be that neutral broker, that neutral voice in those discussions and this is where I believe, should I be appointed I will be able to play a role. In fact…had I not served on the security council because this is the sort of ultra political body of the United Nations, had I not served on that on that body I would not have put forward myself for Secretary-General,” Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said.

Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett has been coming out among the top candidates in the race and has been sharing her vision for the United Nations with global leaders, as part of her campaign.

At the end of the year, she is expected to face off with the other candidates for the top UN job.

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