Clerk to the Houses of Parliament Valrie Curtis set to retire

The Clerk to the Houses of Parliament Valrie Curtis is set to retire come Saturday, April 6.

Curtis has served at the Parliament for almost three decades.

“We wish to express our gratitude to Ms Valrie Curtis… for her long and dedicated service,” read a media release today from Parliament.

It was noted that she reached the age of retirement in April 2021 and was granted an extension for an additional two years to expire upon reaching age 67.

An attorney-at-law, Curtis, hails from a community called Aboukir in St Ann.

She began her parliamentary career as assistant clerk in 1995.

In 2006, the then clerk to the Houses, Shirley Lewis, retired and Heather Cooke was elevated to that post while Curtis was promoted to deputy clerk.

Fifteen years later, Curtis' dream of becoming the CEO of Parliament came true when she was appointed clerk to the Houses of Parliament.

She was appointed in 2021.

Speaking with The Gleaner at the time, Curtis shared that this was a major achievement for her.

“I thank God for the journey he has taken me through and it didn't just start coming to Parliament... coming from Aboukir [in St Ann], growing up with a single mother and making it, and my only regret today is that my mother is not alive to see it.”

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