Guyana apologizes after incorrectly stating China backed UN secretary-general candidate
Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Photo: UN)
Key Points(5)
- Guyana's Department of Public Information (DPI) has issued a public apology after publishing incorrect information about China's position on Guyana's candidate for the post of United Nations secretary-general.
- In a statement released Tuesday, the government agency acknowledged that a report had wrongly characterized China as supporting Guyana's candidate for the top UN post.
- "The report incorrectly characterised China's position as an expression of support for the candidacy," DPI said.
- "DPI acknowledges that this representation was inaccurate and did not reflect the official position communicated by the Chinese authorities." The agency apologized for the error and said it regretted any misunderstanding or diplomatic discomfort the report may have caused.
- DPI said the inaccurate information has since been corrected and that it is strengthening its internal verification and editorial review procedures, particularly for reporting on foreign policy and diplomatic matters.
Guyana’s Department of Public Information (DPI) has apologized for incorrectly reporting that China had expressed support for Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy for secretary-general of the United Nations.
In a statement issued Tuesday, DPI said a report had inaccurately characterized China’s position regarding Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s nominee for the top UN post.
“The report incorrectly characterised China’s position as an expression of support for the candidacy,” DPI said, acknowledging that the report did not reflect the official position communicated by Chinese authorities.
The government agency said it regretted the error and any misunderstanding or diplomatic discomfort it may have caused. It added that the incorrect information had been corrected and that internal measures were being taken to strengthen verification and editorial review procedures, particularly for sensitive foreign policy and diplomatic matters.
The clarification comes after Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s permanent representative to the United Nations and a former foreign minister, has been engaging with countries as she campaigns to succeed current UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term ends in December 2026.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Rodrigues-Birkett in Beijing on July 20, where she presented her campaign platform and vision for the future of the United Nations. Chinese officials said Beijing would participate in the selection process in a “responsible and constructive manner,” but did not announce support for her candidacy.
Rodrigues-Birkett is seeking to become the first Caribbean national to lead the United Nations if selected for the position.
DPI did not identify the original report that contained the inaccurate claim.
