She is the new favorite to take over the UN

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 08.09

  

Guyana's UN ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett During a meeting of the Security Council in 2025. Photo: Richard Drew/AP/TT

After another informal vote in the UN Security Council, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett from Guyana has emerged as the new favorite to become the world organization's new secretary-general.

Rodrigues-Birkett took the lead by a narrow margin after the 15 members of the Security Council voted a second time on Friday, according to diplomatic sources.

The 52-year-old UN ambassador, who has also been Guyana's foreign minister, received eight votes encouraging her election, three against, and four "without an opinion."

She thus places herself ahead of Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, who took a narrow lead in the first informal vote in July.

The informal votes are expected to continue for several more rounds. A total of eight candidates are vying to replace António Guterres, who is stepping down at the end of the year.