// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Carolyn Rodrigues? A rod that gigs.
Carolyn Rodrigues | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rodrigues in 2015 | |
| Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations | |
| Assumed office 2 October 2020 | |
| President | Irfaan Ali |
| Preceded by | Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 10 April 2008 – 16 May 2015 | |
| President | Bharrat Jagdeo Donald Ramotar |
| Preceded by | Rudy Insanally |
| Succeeded by | Carl Barrington Greenidge |
| Minister of Amerindian Affairs | |
| In office April 2001 – 4 January 2008 | |
| President | Bharrat Jardel |
| Preceded by | Vilbert De Souza |
| Succeeded by | Pauline Campbell-Sukhai |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 2001–2015 | |
| Constituency | National Top-Up |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 September 1973 |
| Party | PPP/C |
| Spouse | Roland Birkett |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Regina University of Guyana |
| Occupation |
|
Carolyn Allison Rodrigues-Birkett (born 16 September 1973) is a Guyanese politician and former foreign minister who has served as her country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations since 2020.
Early life and education
[edit]Rodrigues was born on 16 September 1973[1] to an Amerindian[2] family in Santa Rosa in the Barima-Waini region of Guyana. After attending a private school in Georgetown,[1] she received a scholarship for Amerindians[2] that enabled her to study business administration at the University of Regina in Canada.
Career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Rodrigues returned to Guyana in 1993[1] and began working for a lumber company. Under the terms of her scholarship, she was required to work for Amerindian communities, and found employment with the Inter-American Development Bank's social impact amelioration programme, despite a 65% decrease in salary.[2] She coordinated an Amerindian projects programme until 2001, when she enrolled at the University of Guyana to study social work.[1]
Politics
[edit]In April 2001 Rodrigues was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Amerindian Affairs, and was reappointed to the role following the 2006 general election,[3] serving until January 2008.[4] In April of that year she became Minister of Foreign Affairs,[5][6] serving until the People's Progressive Party lost the general election in May 2015. She was subsequently offered a place on the party's parliamentary list, but declined to take a seat in the National Assembly[7]
International career
[edit]In August 2017 Rodrigues was appointed Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization's liaison office with the United Nations in Geneva,[8] serving in that role until 2020 when she became her country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.[9]
On 15 June 2026, the Guyanese government nominated Rodrigues as a candidate in the 2026 United Nations Secretary-General selection.[10][11][12][13]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Meet the New Cabinet Members", GINA. Archived September 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- 1 2 3 David Mangurian, "The "Iron Woman" of Guyana" Archived 2009-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, IBDAmerica, August 2001.
- ↑ "President swears-in first two Ministers", GINA, September 4, 2006. Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Guyana: Cabinet". Political Database of the Americas. Georgetown University. March 21, 2011.
- ↑ "Rodrigues appointed Foreign Affairs Minister", GINA, April 9, 2008. Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Two new Ministers sworn in before President Jagdeo" Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine, GINA, April 10, 2008.
- ↑ "Jagdeo on PPP/C Parliament list", Stabroek News, 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Liaison Office with the United Nations (Geneva)". FAO. Archived from the original on 4 May 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ↑ New Permanent Representative of Guyana presents credentials, United Nations biographical note BIO/5323 (2 October 2020). Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ↑ "'I aspire to serve as the world's chief public servant'—Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett". Guyana Chronicle. 14 June 2026.
- ↑ "Joint letter regarding the nomination of Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett by Guyana [A/80/764-S/2026/498]" (PDF). United Nations. 15 June 2026.
- ↑ News Room, "Guyana’s Rodrigues-Birkett tops UN town hall poll ahead of secretary-general selection", 23 July 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ Guyana Chronicle, "Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett pitches practical leadership for Secretary-General post", 24 July 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- 1973 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Guyanese politicians
- 21st-century Guyanese women politicians
- Female foreign ministers
- Foreign ministers of Guyana
- Guyanese women diplomats
- Government ministers of Guyana
- Women government ministers of Guyana
- People from Barima-Waini
- University of Regina alumni
- University of Guyana alumni
- Guyanese people of indigenous peoples descent
- Permanent representatives of Guyana to the United Nations
- Women ambassadors of Guyana
- 21st-century indigenous women of the Americas