Valerie Woods

Valerie Woods Smith is a Belizean politician who has served as Speaker of the country's House of Representatives since December 2020.

The Honourable

Valerie Woods
12th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belize
Assumed office
December 11, 2020
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor General
Prime MinisterJohnny Briceño
Preceded byLaura Tucker-Longsworth
Personal details
BornBelize City, Belize
Political partyPeople's United Party
Spouse(s)Godfrey Smith
ResidenceBelize City, Belize
ProfessionAdministrator, Business advisor

Education

Woods has a BSc in Business Administration from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York and a master's degree in Tourism Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.[1]

Career

Woods has worked as the Manager of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, Country Manager of Chukka and Director of Tourism.[1] In 1999, she was appointed acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism.[2][3] She joined the Board of Friends for Conservation and Development in December 2019.[1]

Woods is a member of the People's United Party. In March 2016, she was appointed by party leader Johnny Briceño to one of their three designated Senate seats.[4][5] Her appointment was a surprise to some, as her husband had challenged Briceno to step down in 2011.[6]

Woods has been an outspoken advocate against discrimination on the basis of gender or sexuality.[7] In August 2016, she initiated a meeting between the LGBTI community and government officials after the Supreme Court overturned Section 53 of the Criminal Code, which punished same-sex relationships with up to ten years in prison.[8] In December 2018, she called for the government to do more to address domestic abuse.[9] In April 2019, she abstained from voting on the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Bill as she favoured taking Guatemala to the International Court of Justice.[10][5][11] She said, "If my head is to roll, let it roll."[12] She was replaced in the Senate in August that year.[13][14]

After the 2020 Belizean general election brought the PUP to power for the first time in 17 years, Woods was unanimously elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on 11 December 2020 after being proposed by newly elected Prime Minister Briceño and Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde.[15] In her inaugural address, she said, "...whіlе Веlіzе ѕtіll hаѕ muсh wоrk tо dо іn gеttіng mоrе wоmеn еlесtеd tо Раrlіаmеnt, І rесоgnіzе thаt mу nоmіnаtіоn аnd thаt оf thе Рrеѕіdеnt оf thе Ѕеnаtе, Ноn. Саrоlуn Тrеnсh-Ѕаndіfоrd, ѕіgnаlѕ а rесоgnіtіоn оf thе сrіtісаl іmроrtаnсе оf hаvіng mоrе wоmеn іn lеаdеrѕhір."[16] Woods is also Chair of Caribbean Women in Leadership.[17]

Personal life

Woods is married to Godfrey Smith, former Attorney-General of Belize and a judge of the Supreme Court of Saint Lucia.[4][14]

References
  1. "FCD's Board of Directors welcome Valerie Woods and Tanya Santos". BBN. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. "Belize Fills Posts". Travel Weekly. 14 January 2000. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  3. "New Leadership for the Tourism Industry". The San Pedro Sun. 21 October 1999. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  4. "New PUP senators to be installed in time for budget debate". Amandala. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  5. "Woods stands with Belize". Guardian Newspaper. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  6. "PUP leader sacks senators". Guardian Newspaper. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. Woods, Valerie (12 September 2017). "Angry Woman". Ambergris Today. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  8. "Civil Society elects 13th Senator for the first time in Belize's history". Monitor. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  9. "Senator Valerie Woods calls for legislation to address domestic violence". Love FM. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  10. "Valiant Valerie Abstains". 7 News Belize. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  11. Worley, Will (6 April 2019). "Belize's Big Gamble". The New European. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  12. Humes, Aaron (16 April 2019). "PUP's Valerie Woods chooses to abstain from Referendum Bill vote". The World News. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  13. "PUP's Senate Shuffle Turns Into Stumble". 7 News Belize. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  14. "Valerie Woods dumped for PUP newcomer Candice Pitts". Associated Belize Press. 16 August 2019.
  15. "Valerie Woods appointed as Speaker of the House of Representatives". BBN. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  16. "Caribbean Women in Leadership congratulates new Speaker of the House and Senate President". BBN. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  17. Lopez, Marco (12 December 2020). "New persons in key roles prior to Friday sitting of House and Senate". Amandala. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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