Amid the feverish debate over the non-tabling of two outstanding reports from the Auditor General’s Department in Parliament, House Speaker Juliet Holness has accused house clerk Valrie Curtis of bringing the house into disrepute in the handling of the documents.

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

This comes after Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis said that two reports that were sent to Parliament for tabling were returned to her office on Friday, March 22.

The reports submitted by the Auditor General’s Department were returned 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 have since been returned to Parliament by the auditor general for tabling.

“The aforementioned references underscore the point that subsequent reports received from the Auditor General were in breach of the ruling made in the House of Representatives on November 7, 2023. Additionally, your failure to adhere to said ruling and applicable procedures amounts to a gross dereliction of duty and as such has brought the institution into disrepute,” the Speaker scolded Curtis in the letter.

Holness said as Speaker of the House, she is charged with the responsibility to ensure that there is adherence to the established laws, protocols and guidelines including the rulings in the House of Representatives.

“It is essential that in your capacity as the chief administrator with the responsibility for adherence to procedures, you recognize the authority of the presiding officers and respect the decisions made in the House. The rulings of the Speaker are integral to maintaining order and the execution of the administrative procedures in the House. Your failure to comply with the agreed and established procedure has undermined the effectiveness of the institution,” she added.

She further instructed the clerk to prepare a schedule by February 27, which shows details of all reports received from the Integrity Commission and the Auditor General since her ascension to office on September 26.

Holness said the schedule should include the date received to the registry, the date delivered to the Speaker, the date tabled in Parliament, the relevant sections of the act under which they were tabled and the date of correspondence to the auditor general regarding the reports.

The Speaker further instructed that a copy of the letter is added to the clerk’s personal file.