Continuing with this narration, he said that "in March 1976 I discussed with the Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth at the UN the idea of requesting observer status for the Commonwealth Secretariat at the United Nations General Assembly, this would be symbolic of our internationalism, but on the practical side it would give us entitlement to all UN documents and to be represented in an observer capacity at all UN meetings." The idea was warmly received, cites Shridath Ramphal in his book, "it was consummated by a General Assembly consensus resolution, because the world had begun to see the Commonwealth not as an empire club, but as a global asset in the world’s search for a new way forward."

The book also details the processes that led to the recognition of the former Minister and his election as the second Secretary General of Commonwealth, "from my small perch in Guyana I had by 1974 come to the notice of the international community in a very positive way" explains the text that continues to describe that " a substantial element of this good opinion was a reflection of the standing Guyana itself was acquiring in all international theaters, especially as a reliable and effective advocate of the causes of developing countries, but it went beyond economic issues; I earned respect form Guyana´s principled positions, Guyana was recognized as being progressive but not extremist," he said.