Antigua breaks CARICOM ranks, backs Ecuadorian for UN top job

(Kaieteur News) – Antigua and Barbuda has broken with several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries by backing Ecuadorian diplomat María Fernanda Espinosa for the post of United Nations Secretary-General, while regional governments continue to rally behind Guyana’s candidate, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.

Addressing world leaders during the UN General Assembly in New York, Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Walton Alfonso Webson, announced his country’s support for Espinosa, a former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister and linguist.

The decision came as several CARICOM leaders publicly endorsed Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN and the Caribbean Community’s candidate for the top UN post. Rodrigues-Birkett is the first Guyanese and Caribbean national to be nominated for the position.