Eddie Webster Resigns as Clerk of National Assembly

Eddie Webster has been an institution at the National Assembly in Belmopan as he has been serving as the Clerk since 2010.  Tonight, however, Webster’s days are numbered as he has tendered his resignation.  Love News confirmed that he submitted his letter on Monday, but is yet to receive a letter of acceptance from the Speaker of the House or the Prime Minister’s office.  According to reports, both Webster and the Speaker, Valerie Woods, have not been seeing eye-to-eye on multiple issues and the contention has come to a head.  We further understand that Prime Minister Briceno was made aware of the situation, but in the end, Webster resigned.  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, is one elected member who has worked with Webster over the years.  He commented on the clerk’s departure.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education: “I’m just hearing that on the media. I haven’t heard that officially yet that he resigned. But I know that Mr. Webster has I think reached retirement age for some time now. He’s I think 65 or so. So I know that for the past year or so he’s been negotiating with the government a departure. So I don’t know what happened today or yesterday or what took place specifically. But I’m sure the government will put out a release on the matter. The Speaker will put out a release on the matter.”

Webster has been the longest serving Clerk of the National Assembly since Belize’s independence.  He worked in parliament for a total of 16 years and in the capacity of clerk for fourteen years and two months.