The Opposition People’s National Party is renewing its call for the Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness to withdraw a recent letter of reprimand issued to former House Clerk Valrie Curtis over the handling of two auditor general reports sent to Parliament.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding, in a media statement on Sunday, April 7, said the letter violates well-established public sector employment practices.

“Last week Tuesday, in the House of Representatives, the Opposition called for the withdrawal of this letter as it violates well-established public sector employment practices and amounts to nothing short of reprehensible, maladministration and an abuse of power. The Opposition also notes that the repercussions of the speaker’s conduct extend beyond the clerk because given rise to a significant constellation within the public because not only was it issued without proper legal authority but it also seriously violates basic principles of good employment relations within the public sector,” Golding said.

Holness, in a letter addressed to the house clerk on March 22, said Curtis brought the house into disrepute when she failed to adhere to the ruling and applicable procedures when she accepted reports from the Auditor General dated December 28 and January 8.

The letter followed a decision taken by Parliament to return two reports to the Auditor General Department due to an alleged breach of Section 13A of the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act and Section 30 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act.

The reports, after being returned to Parliament by the Auditor General, were tabled by the House Speaker on March 26.

“Such action from an elected official holding the high office of Speaker of the House seriously erodes public trust and confidence in our democratic institutions. It is imperative that we hold our leaders to high standards of good governance and accountability. The Speaker’s refusal to retract the letter has only deepened the breach of trust that has already been eroded by the irregular process concerning the two Auditor General reports which preceded her issuing that infamous letter,” Golding added.

Following Curtis’ retirement on Saturday, April 7, after serving the Houses of Parliament for nearly three decades, Golding urged Holness to issue a public apology to Curtis, along with the retraction.