Nominee for United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) and Guyana’s current Permanent Representative to the body, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, on Thursday said that should she be appointed, she would ensure that the top world organisation for peace and protection of human rights be reformed and be “fit for purpose”.

Giving insight into an agenda for her first 100 days in office, she promised a five-pronged focus which includes humanitarian action, support for vulnerable countries, reform, conflict prevention, and financing. The foundation for these goals to be realised, she contended, will be by beginning with the appointment of a senior team that reflects competence, geographical balance and gender balance.

“The first order of business, obviously, will be deploying my senior team,” Rodrigues-Birkett said at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where a two-hour Town Hall debate was held with the six nominees vying for the post of SG.