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By Kimone Witter
Political commentator Lloyd B. Smith says House Speaker Juliet Holness is in need of guidance to effectively carry out her duties following her issuance of a reprimand letter to Clerk to the Houses of Parliament Valrie Curtis regarding the handling of Auditor General reports.
Mr. Smith says the back and forth with the Auditor General about the tabling of two special audit reports also suggests that Mrs. Holness is displaying a level of ignorance on parliamentary procedures.
Mr. Smith, who is a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said those who are elevated to the posts of Deputy Speaker and Speaker, should undergo training.
"Because clearly, what I see evolving here is that Mrs. Holness is just trudging along in so many different directions, fumbling and getting herself into all sorts of unnecessary problems. It is critical for her to know, for example, that politicians ought not to take on civil servants in that manner," he insisted.
Mr. Smith said Mrs. Holness should also withdraw the letter and publicly apologise to Ms. Curtis.
He was a guest on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.
The House Speaker has said that she and the clerk are in dialogue and there will be no further comment on the issue.
Mrs. Holness also indicated that she would be meeting with Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis in relation to reports sent to the Houses of Parliament for tabling.
'Shambolic'
Political analyst Germaine Barrett has said the decisions of the House Speaker regarding the tabling of reports from the Auditor General and Integrity Commission have been chaotic.
Mr. Barrett also agreed that the letter of reprimand to the Clerk to the Houses of Parliament should be withdrawn.
"I think it is shambolic the way things have proceeded and one of the problems from where I sit as a member of the public at large is the fact that we just don't have enough information to guide an informed opinion. So for example, the refusal of the Speaker to share with the public...through the Parliament what the advice is from the Attorney General, I think it is very, very bad."
He urged the House Speaker to retreat from her current position and demonstrate "a degree of responsiveness, accountability [and] full transparency".
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