Valerie Woods Smith (born 1973[1]) is a Belizean politician who has served as Speaker of the House of Representatives since December 2020.
[1] Woods has a BSc in Business Administration obtained from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York and a master's degree in Tourism Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.[2] Woods has worked as the Manager of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, Country Manager of Chukka and Director of Tourism.
[8] 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.
[10] 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.
[16] 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.