Laurent Lamothe

Laurent Lamothe
Prime Minister of Haiti
In office
16 May 2012 – 14 December 2014
President Michel Martelly
Preceded by Garry Conille
Succeeded by Florence Duperval Guillaume (Acting)
Minister of Planning and External Cooperation
Assumed office
6 August 2012
Preceded by Josefa Gauthier
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
24 October 2011 – 6 August 2012
Prime Minister Garry Conille
Preceded by Marie-Michèle Rey
Succeeded by Pierre-Richard Casimir
Personal details
Born Laurent Salvador Lamothe
(1972-08-14) 14 August 1972
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Alma mater Barry University
St. Thomas University

Laurent Salvador Lamothe (born 14 August 1972) is a Haitian businessman, economist, and political figure who has served in the government of Haiti as Minister of Foreign Affairs since October 2011, having been appointed Prime Minister on 4 May 2012.[1] Previously, he was co-founder and CEO of the company Global Voice Group.[2][3] On 14 December 2014, Lamothe resigned as Prime Minister for personal reasons.[4]

Life and career

Son of Louis G. Lamothe (D.Litt. in Spanish Language and Literature), the founder of the Lope de Vega Institute, and of Ghislaine Fortuney Lamothe, a painter, Lamothe was born in Port-au-Prince. He grew up in an academic and artistic, but also athletic, environment. His elder brother, Ruben, served as captain of the Haitian Davis Cup tennis team for some time. A tennis player himself, Laurent Lamothe represented his country at the Davis Cup in 1994 and 1995.[5]

At age 19, Lamothe left Haiti to complete his tertiary studies in Florida. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in political sciences at Barry University in Miami, in 1996 he enrolled in Saint Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he earned a master's degree in business management.[6][7] He was said to be a "keen, analytical and articulate student, a gentleman and a people person".[7]

Two years after obtaining his master's degree in business management, he founded the telecommunications company Global Voice Group with his business partner, Patrice Baker.[5] The company started out as a small telecommunications company and is today a worldwide provider of technological solutions in emerging markets and developing countries.[8] Through his company, Global Voice Group, he introduced telecoms governance technologies in Africa which allow regulation agencies to manage the sector in terms of control, tariff equity and transparency. This earned him a nomination as Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” in May 2008.[9]

In July 2015, Lamothe founded and created LSL World Initiative (LSLWI), a global enterprise that provides solutions for governments of emerging countries to overcome debt and achieve sustainable development.[10] Revenue generated through innovative financing strategies can be used to fund vital health and educational programs, and encourage economic self-sufficiency in emerging markets.

Political career

His involvement in the political and social life of Haiti subsequently led him to accept the position of Special Advisor to Haitian President Michel Martelly.[9] In order to achieve more and to avoid conflicts of interest, Laurent Lamothe resigned from his businesses and considers himself as a former businessman.[3] He also became a member of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (CIRH).

In September 2011, Lamothe and former United States President Bill Clinton co-chaired the Presidential Advisory Council for the Economic Development and Investment in Haiti launched by President Martelly on 8 September 2011 to help redevelop Haiti by making it more attractive to foreign companies and investors.[11]

Subsequently, Lamothe was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Haiti. On 26 October 2011, he made his first speech as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs during his installation ceremony, which took place in Bois-Verna, Haiti.[12] He is viewed as "competent and dynamic minister" and a "talented entrepreneur with the vision to move Haiti forward"[13]

Lamothe in the US State Department, 2012

On 1 March 2012, Lamothe was designated as the Prime Minister of Haiti by President Martelly following the resignation of Prime Minister Garry Conille.[14] He successfully served as Prime Minister from March 2012 to December 2014, the longest tenure of any Prime Minister in the last three decades. During his time in office, Lamothe presided over the design and implementation of an important social policy agenda that targeted the poorest sectors of the Haitian population. Lamothe also presided over the largest infrastructure development in recent history, which included the construction and rehabilitation of schools, public buildings, bridges and roads.

During Lamothe’s tenure as Prime Minister, foreign direct investment increased to the highest level since the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in the mid 1980s. Under his leadership, the government pursued reforms that made Haiti a safer and more business-friendly country with the implementation of a 15-year tax break to companies investing in the island nation.

He also pushed for an increase of the police force by 30 percent. He fought to improve the living conditions of the poorest in Haiti. He implemented social programs that benefited the most vulnerable, he spearheaded the free education program, and promoted good governance by tackling corruption.

He had an impact in the fight against extreme poverty – According to a 2014 World Bank study, from 2012 to 2014, the number of people in extreme poverty in Haiti dropped from 31% to 24% thanks to the social program EDE PEP, which benefited 2 million people.[15]

Lamothe implemented programs to fight corruption, and improved conditions to facilitate Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). From 2011 t0 2013, FDI increased by 56% compared to the 2006-2010 period. Along with that, through the GOH’s free education program, elementary school attendance rate rose from 55 to 90%. Close to 1.4 million children between the ages of 6 and 12 now attend school at no charge.

On 7 November 2014, Laurent Lamothe, received in Miami, the Innovative Leader of the Year Award, «Bravo Awards» established by the Latin Trade Group, to underline the initiatives and actions of the leaders of the region to develop their country.[16]

Having grown up in a country affected by poverty and lack of resources at all levels, he developed throughout his life a deep sense of social responsibility and a strong tendency to assist those in need. Lamothe is a pragmatist who, during his time in office, emphasized practical solutions over partisan politics to address the urgent needs of Haiti.

On 14 December 2014, Lamothe resigned his position as Prime Minister.[4]

“My Government’s top priority was to serve these vulnerable citizens who had always been forgotten by traditional politicians and the political class.”—Laurent Lamothe, January 2015.

Lamothe obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Barry University in Miami and in 1996 earned his MBA with Honors from University of St. Thomas. In 1998, Lamothe founded Global Voice Group SA (GVG) considered today a world-leader in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions for telecoms and fiscal authorities. He served as CEO of GVG until he stepped down to assume his public sector duties with the Government of Haiti. GVG earned the 2014 Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Award for its outstanding innovation in the domain of IT solutions designed for governments and regulatory authorities.[17]

In July 2015, Lamothe created LSL World Initiative, a private enterprise providing solutions to governments in implementing their own funding mechanisms to help them deliver sustainable development programs in line with their needs and priorities.[18]

In December 2015, Lamothe founded the Louis G Lamothe Foundation (LGLF) in honour and memory of his father Louis G Lamothe.[19] The Foundation will concentrate on the strategies to lead Haiti to emerging country status by 2041. Two recent sustainable development projects which will be implemented through the Foundation are the Smart Villages initiative: to provide off-grid communities in Haiti with sustainable energy and the Nan Pangnol sustainable agriculture project.[20]

On the 5th March 2016, Laurent was inducted to the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame 2016. The ceremony took place at the Hilton Daytona Beach Ocean Front Florida.

Personal life

In 2013, Lamothe dated Czech model Petra Němcová,[21] but as of 2015 they are no longer together.[22]

He is the father of two daughters, Lara and Linka.[6]

He announced his resignation as prime minister of Haiti on www.radiocaciquedhaiti.com in mid-December 2014.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-mct-presidential-decree-names-lamothe-haiti-prime-20120505,0,908081.story
  2. ↑ Cauchy, M. "Mr. Patrice Baker succeeds Mr. Laurent Lamothe as CEO of Global Voice Group". Global Voice Group. 2 November 2011. Retrieved on 17 November 2011
  3. 1 2 Geffrard, R. "L'hyperactif Laurent Lamothe". Le Nouvelliste. 5 January 2012. Retrieved on 23 March 2012
  4. 1 2 http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12775-haiti-politic-the-list-of-possible-prime-minister-being-reduced.html
  5. 1 2 Équipe de rédaction de Haitian Success Stories. "Laurent Lamothe: An entrepreneur committed to socio-economic development". Haitian Success Stories. 28 July 2011. Retrieved on 17 November 2011
  6. 1 2 http://www.worldleaders.columbia.edu/participants/laurent-lamothe
  7. 1 2 cnweeklynews.com, 8 March 2012, Who is Laurent Lamothe?
  8. ↑ Cauchy, M. "Who is Laurent Lamothe, CEO of Global Voice Group?". Defend HT. 1 September 2011. Retrieved on 18 November 2011
  9. 1 2 (French) HL/Haïti Libre. "Haïti - Économie : Laurent Lamothe conseiller spécial du Président Martelly". Haïti Libre. 22 August 2011. Retrieved on 18 November 2011
  10. ↑ "Home | Mobilise funds to innovatively finance development". www.lslwi.com. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  11. ↑ "Laurent Lamothe and former US President Bill Clinton to co-chair the Presidential Advisory Council for the Economic Development of Haiti". PR Newswire. 14 September 2011. Retrieved on 18 November 2011
  12. ↑ "Laurent Lamothe makes his first Commitments as the new Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs". PR Newswire. 28 October 2011. Retrieved on 18 November 2011
  13. ↑ "Haiti's latest constitutional crisis is another setback for rebuilding efforts". The Guardian. 13 March 2012. Retrieved on 13 March 2012
  14. ↑ "Laurent Lamothe candidat designated for the position of Prime Minister". Haiti Libre. 1 March 2012. Retrieved on 3 March 2012
  15. ↑ "Extreme poverty drops in Haiti. Is it sustainable?". www.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  16. ↑ http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12462-haiti-politic-lamothe-in-miami-to-receive-the-bravo-awards.html
  17. ↑ http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/press-release.pag?docid=289235777
  18. ↑ http://www.lslwi.com/
  19. ↑ "Haiti - Social : Laurent Lamothe create a foundation to fight against poverty and exclusion in Haiti - HaitiLibre.com : Haiti news 7/7". HaitiLibre.com. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  20. ↑ "Dr Louis G Lamothe Foundation | Knowledge for transformation". fondationlgl.com. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  21. ↑ Linda Marx (May 6, 2014). "Petra Nemcova: I'm 'Very Happy' Dating Laurent Lamothe". People (magazine). Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  22. ↑ Sontag, Deborah (29 May 2015). "An Award for Bill Clinton Came With $500,000 for His Foundation". Newspaper. The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2015.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Marie-Michèle Rey		 Minister of Foreign Affairs
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Pierre Richard Casimir
Preceded by
Garry Conille		 Prime Minister of Haiti
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
Florence Duperval Guillaume
Acting
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