Rep. of Guyana to the UN Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett Talks Her Bid For Secretary General

SPEAKER_1 (0:02)

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Carol Massar (0:07)

Our global viewpoint of the world because of the UN General Assembly continues. Carolyn Rodriguez Birkett, she is permanent representative of Guyana to the UN. She's one of the leading candidates to become the next UN Secretary General. She's going to join Tim and me in just a moment.

Tim Stenovec (0:22)

All right, looking forward to that. Also, we're going to hear from one of Cuba's top diplomats who warns that President Trump's sanctions are stifling the island's efforts to overhaul its economy and embrace capitalist reforms. Looking forward to that conversation in just a minute.

Carol Massar (0:33)

Yeah, really important and watching what the developments are there. Two of this era's biggest stories, we just talked about it, energy aftershocks, after the Strait of Hormuz and living in a 5% world that has to do with treasury rates and bond rates around the world. And we're going to talk a little bit about football, but we should talk markets.

Tim Stenovec (0:49)

All right, let's get on over to Charlie Pellet. He's got an update on everything happening in today's trade. Hey, Charlie.

Charlie Pellet (0:54)

Well, hello there, Tim and Carol. And just want to begin with a developing story right now. Red headline on the Bloomberg Professional Service Bright Line filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey. Again, that's the headline. We'll get more details throughout the afternoon. Right now we've got the Dow, the S&P, Nasdaq all advancing. S&P 500 index currently trading close to session highs. We're up 37 points right now, up by about five tenths of one percent. The backdrop, crude oil is moving lower. This on Peace Hopes or at least negotiations for the Middle East. Right now Dow Industrial is up 425, gained there of eight tenths of one percent. Nasdaq, the composite index up 143, up by about five tenths of one percent. The Nasdaq 100 index also up by five tenths of one percent.

Looking at those treasury yields, the two-year 4.88 percent with the five-year holding above five percent, five point oh two percent. We've got the ten-year five point one nine percent and the 30-year also grabbing your attention at five point five one percent. Spot gold up two tenths of one percent, 42.83 the ounce. West Texas, intermediate crude down two point six percent, 92.5 in a barrel. Brent just below 104 now lower by two and a half percent.

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell will resign after an internal investigation, substantive substantiated allegations that he sexually harassed a female staffer and repeatedly violated state ethics rules that according to the New Jersey Globe. Again, recapping here, S&P 500 index up 37 up by about five tenths of one percent. Tim and Carol, that's a Bloomberg business flash.

Carol Massar (2:32)

All right, Charlie, thank you so much. You know, the 81st General UN General Assembly underway, high level meetings have all been held this week. Presided over by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, whose term ends on December 31st. We've got one of the leading candidates to become the next UN Secretary General. She is Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett. She's Guiana's permanent representative to the United Nations.

She is joining from the UN Rose Garden Ambassador. Thank you so much for joining Tim and myself here on Bloomberg. You and all the candidates know all too well that the eventual choice in terms of who leads the UN next is dependent on whether a candidate can avoid opposition by the US, China, Russia, France and UK, Any of the five veto-wielding permanent members, how are you thinking about those five members and what their role is for the UN going forward?

Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett (3:31)

Thank you, Carol. The discussion so far with the five members that you mentioned of the Security Council, And indeed, the entire membership has been really, really good. I think it's important for us to have a close collaboration, should I be the Secretary General. These are very important countries. Of course, all 193 members of the UN are important, but these are five important countries, and the structure of the Security Council.

Thank you. I've served on Thank. you. And I've worked very closely with the P5, and so in some respects, they know me, and they know how I operate. I held the position of leading Guyana's delegation, so I held the presidency twice. Of course, my country held the presidency. Thank you. So, I look forward to it, should I be appointed.

Tim Stenovec (4:44)

Ambassador Leak, Security Council Results put you at around You're in- second place for the race for Secretary General.

What are you seeing as the biggest hurdles for actually getting to first place, and how do you plan to get there in the coming months?