Speaker praised Curtis’ dedication to duty a day after reprimand letter went public
Published:Wednesday | April 17, 2024 | 12:05 AMEdmond Campbell/Senior Parliamentary Reporter
“HER STRONG work ethic, sound organisational skills and keen attention to detail saw her being elevated to the position of clerk to the Houses in 2021, and since that time she has commendably led her staff in providing the necessary procedural and administrative support to members of both Houses,” read an excerpt from a tribute to then Clerk to the Houses Valrie Curtis by the presiding officers of Parliament.
The former clerk received a plaque with the tribute from Tom Tavares-Finson, president of the Senate, and Juliet Holness, Speaker of the House of Representatives on March 26, in recognition of her work, ahead of her retirement on April 6, 2024.
The tribute, which Curtis obtained on March 26 at a meeting with the Speaker, was in stark contrast to the letter of reprimand released the day before by the presiding officer of the Lower House.
In the letter that was sent to 62 lawmakers, the Speaker accused Curtis of “gross dereliction of duty” and bringing the Parliament into disrepute.
The letter triggered national debate and calls from members of civil society, trade union leaders and the parliamentary opposition for its withdrawal.
The Speaker claimed that the former clerk failed to comply with her ruling in November last year in relation to the tabling of reports on public bodies from the auditor general.
“We would like to pay tribute to Ms Valrie Annie Curtis who has given exceptional service to the Houses of Parliament for the past 28 years,” the opening paragraph of the tribute stated.
“Beginning with her joining the staff of the Parliament as assistant clerk in 1995, Ms Curtis demonstrated a dedication to duty which led to her being appointed deputy clerk in 2006,” the citation continued.
Tavares-Finson and Speaker Holness also highlighted Curtis’ commitment to “upholding parliamentary ideals”.
According to the presiding officers of the Upper and Lower houses, respectively, the former clerk “displayed a people-centred approach to parliamentary administration, and oversaw several initiatives aimed at modernising parliamentary operations”.
She was hailed for representing Jamaica at parliamentary conferences across the globe and for being “integral to the staging of international parliamentary conferences here in Jamaica, also the hosting of a myriad of visiting international delegations to the Parliament”.
The Senate president and Speaker concluded that “Ms Curtis has left an indelible mark on the Parliament and it is hoped that she will enjoy her well-deserved retirement”.
In an exclusive interview with Curtis, the former administrator of Parliament noted that even though the plaque with the tribute might have been prepared before the letter of reprimand was done, she wondered why it was still presented to her in light of the scathing missive that was made public by the Speaker.
At the March 26 meeting, which was her last before she went off on retirement, Curtis was also given a number of gifts including a bouquet, orchids, an assortment of liquor, and a floral arrangement.