KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Senator Donna Scott-Mottley is urging the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Juliet Holness, to withdraw the controversial letter she sent to Valrie Curtis, former Clerk to the Houses of Parliament last month, upbraiding her over her handling of and tabling of reports from the Auditor General’s Department (AGD).

The Speaker’s decision to delay the tabling of reports from the AGD and the Integrity Commission has sparked controversy, and political commentators have described Holness’ action against Curtis as unprecedented.

Members of the opposition have repeatedly called for the withdrawal of the letter issued to Curtis, arguing that it sets a bad precedent. They were previously told that the matter was being ironed out between the former clerk and the speaker.

On Friday, Scott-Mottley added her voice to those calling for the letter to be withdrawn during the debate on an amendment to the Appropriations Bill to correct an error that saw statutory expenditures inadvertently included in the Act that was passed by the Parliament last month.

Curtis proceeded on retirement on April 6 after serving the nation’s Parliament for more than 28 years. Scott25-Mottley, along with Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson and Leader of Government Business, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, all heaped praise on Curtis while acknowledging her decades-long contribution. The trio also welcomed the new clerk, Colleen Lowe, who served as Curtis’ deputy since May 2022.

Scott-Mottley wants the Senate to properly recognise Curtis’ contribution.

“I hope that we will have the opportunity to pay real tribute to her when we’re so prepared and when she’s present. And I would have hoped that on an occasion like today (Friday), a significant day for Ms Lowe, she (Curtis) would have been here in the well of the House, celebrating her deputy’s ascension.”

“And it would be remiss of me if I did not join the chorus of voices asking that that devastating missive that was sent to her and made public, on the eve of her retirement, which sullied her reputation, and which continues to harm her, it would be remiss of me if I did not ask that that missive be withdrawn,” Scott-Mottley remarked.

The opposition senator said it was unfortunate that the letter was sent just a few days before Curtis’ retirement “when she should have been left as a totally celebrated person”.

“That was a cruel act,” she added.

Turning to Lowe, Scott-Mottley said, “Today, that’s the only thing that detracts from you because today should have really been about you and your ascension.”

When the House of Representatives met on Tuesday, opposition members of parliament were shut down by the deputy speaker, Heroy Clarke, when they attempted to speak on the matter.

However, acting leader of opposition business, Fitz Jackson, did note that it was the custom of the House to pay tribute to outgoing clerks but this was not done on Tuesday.

“For all my years in this Parliament, there are certain courtesies that are usually extended to our officers. Ms Curtis has demitted office without that usual courtesy being extended to her, of the House, in its sitting, acknowledging her service and paying tribute to her,” Jackson said, adding that “it would be remiss of us to continue the sitting today (Tuesday), at the end of that tenure, as if it’s business as usual…the Opposition would not sit and allow that to continue because we would become complicit with such practice.”

His comments appeared to have rankled the deputy leader of government business, Olivia Grange, who rose on a point of order and objected to Jackson’s remarks.

“The member and I did have a discussion and I indicated that we would be doing the courtesies when the leader of the House (Edmund Bartlett) and the speaker (Juliet Holness) are present,” said Grange.

“He asked me to indicate when, I told him I would do so before the end of this sitting and that’s the understanding we had,” Grange added.

Jackson responded by stating that Grange’s comments were accurate but “inadequate and unacceptable.” He insisted that a time and date be given for the tributes.

Amid the back and forth between the two sides, Prime Minister Andrew Holness intervened, stating that “it is never a contemplation that the Clerk of the House, which is such an important position, a constitutionally recognised position, could demit office and the courtesies and convention surrounding that office are not observed with dignity.”

“I want to assure the acting leader of opposition business (Jackson) that that will be done appropriately when the House is at its full strength, when the speaker and the leader of government business and the leader of opposition business and the leader of the opposition are all present to pay their respects and courtesies.”