Clarita Pech was first appointed as the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly of Belize in August of 2023, but as of this month, she moved up to the post of Clerk, becoming the first woman in Belize to hold the position. And, we might add, she is the first non political appointee to that post in decades.
Today we visited Clarita Pech at the National Assembly building, and she shared her journey to becoming Clerk - the highest ranking public officer in Parliament - with Jomarie Lanza.
She hails from Xaibe Corozal, and made history earlier this month upon her official appointment as the first female clerk of The National Assembly of Belize. Mrs Clarita Pech reflected on her 23 years of service within the public sector and tod us how she worked her way up through the National Assembly ranks.
Clarita Pech, Clerk, National Assembly "I started here in 1998 as parliamentary officer 3 doing the work in terms of preparing the order of the day for the house and the senate compiling records for both houses also preparing the notes for the key people in the house as in relation to the speaker, and the president of the senate. Thereafter I was upgraded or promoted to parliamentary officer 2 eventually throughout the years I also was promoted to clerk assistant and eventually I became the senior clerk assistant and then afterwards I was given the post of the deputy clerk and now as the clerk to the National Assembly."
"I am thrilled I was thrilled and I as really happy that the change eventually occurred and yes the post has always been seen as a political post nonetheless when I started here at the National Assembly The clerk at the time was Mr Jesus Ken and I had always believed that the post should have been given to officers who take this as a parliamentary career which I have done throughout the years and being now that the focus was looked at in terms of productivity, good job attitude, initiative and hard work which is what I believe triggered the fact that I was given the opportunity or the promotion to be the clerk of the National Assembly."
Pech possesses a Bachelors in Public sector management, and has also received certificates from the CommonWealth Parliamentary Academy, but she says that most of her qualifications and knowledge has been earned through the experience of working within the National Assembly for more than 2 decades.
Clarita Pech, Clerk, National Assembly "For throughout the years that I have been here at The National Assembly I have tried to qualify myself I have tried to learn I have tried to be able to make changes when the changes in administration would occur and so I had tried my very best to adapt to those changes in terms of the management, new management of the different administrations that I have worked under and I have been doing the job throughout the years so It did not come to any point that I hesitated I welcomed the opportunity and I am happy that my hardwork and dedication has paid off."
She says that upon assuming her role as Clerk of the National Assembly, her work has expanded tremendously, but one thing she hopes to accomplish in her capacity is educating the public more about what it is that the National Assembly does, and their role in parliament.
Clarita Pech, Clerk, National Assembly "As we go by changes will occur in terms of what is going to be the focus on management now and that entails or involves rolling out our education and outreach strategy and plan for 2025 to 2030. For too long the public out there is only aware of house meetings, senate meetings, a meeting of the special select senate committee that's about it the work of parliament in terms of what we do behind the scenes isn't promoted and so we want to as the clerk I want to ensure that we roll out this target and plan so that the general public is aware that we here at The National Assembly The staff we do, and we can educate as to what exactly is this branch of Government, The legislature, what we do and what is our vision what is our mission and so I think that is the main focus going forward to reach out to our populace and let them know that there is a lot that we do here and it is not only about a house meeting you know that is publicised or a senate meeting but we do have parliamentary work that we do and that will be a way as to how we can educate our people as to what they need to know about the National Assembly."
Pech's appointment was made after the National Assembly Staff Committee advised the office of the Governor General on its recommendation of Mrs Pech.
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Clarita Pech was first appointed as the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly of Belize in August of 2023, but as of this month, she moved up to the post of Clerk, becoming the first woman in Belize to hold the position. And, we might add, she is the first non political appointee to that post in decades.
"I started here in 1998 as parliamentary officer 3 doing the work in terms of preparing the order of the day for the house and the senate compiling records for both houses also preparing the notes for the key people in the house as in relation to the speaker, and the president of the senate. Thereafter I was upgraded or promoted to parliamentary officer 2 eventually throughout the years I also was promoted to clerk assistant and eventually I became the senior clerk assistant and then afterwards I was given the post of the deputy clerk and now as the clerk to the National Assembly."