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Laurent Lamothe

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Laurent Lamothe
16th Prime Minister of Haiti
In office
16 May 2012 – 14 December 2014
PresidentMichel Martelly
Preceded byGarry Conille
Succeeded byFlorence Duperval Guillaume (acting)
Minister of Planning and External Cooperation
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 August 2012
Preceded byJosefa Gauthier
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
24 October 2011 – 6 August 2012
Prime MinisterGarry Conille
Preceded byMarie-Michèle Rey
Succeeded byPierre-Richard Casimir
Personal details
Born
Laurent Salvador Lamothe

(1972-08-14) 14 August 1972 (age 52)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Alma materBarry 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 Foreign Minister since October 2011, then appointed as Prime Minister on 4 May 2012.[1] On 14 December 2014, Lamothe was forced to resign as Prime Minister due to domestic and international pressure.[2] Previously, he was co-founder and Manager of the company Global Voice Group.[3][4] Lamothe was sanctioned by the Canadian Government for his involvement in human rights violations and supporting criminal gangs November 20, 2022.

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][citation needed] 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] To achieve more and to avoid conflicts of interest, Laurent Lamothe resigned from his businesses and considers himself as a former businessman.[4][citation needed] 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]

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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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).[citation needed] From 2011 to 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%.[citation needed] Close to 1.4 million children between the ages of 6 and 12 now attend school at no charge. He initiated reform policies in the security sector such as supporting the effective coordination of law enforcement agencies and increasing women presence in the police force.[citation needed]

In 2010, Lamothe was largely responsible for the reconstruction of the country after the devastating earthquake.[citation needed] He was instrumental in relocating approximately 1.6 million people from the resulting tent camps, as well as in removing 97% of the rubble that the earthquake caused.[16] Four years after the earthquake, kidnappings had decreased by 55 per cent; public investments had increased by 8 per cent; and there were almost 200 projects dedicated to rebuilding of the community.[17] In 2016, Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti. After the hurricane, Lamothe helped rebuild communities in Haiti through the Dr. Louis G. Lamothe Foundation, which he started in memory of his late father.[citation needed] Lamothe is working to improve fishing and agriculture in Anse du Clerc so as to help the citizens make sustainable incomes.[citation needed] He has rebuilt a school in Nan Panyol, and is working on many more projects with the Foundation.[18]

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.[19]

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.[citation needed]

Forced resignation

On 14 December 2014, in a middle-of-the-night televised speech, Lamothe resigned from his position as Prime Minister, effectively succumbing to immense domestic and international pressure. The forced resignation came after an independent commission recommended he step down and after several days of massive anti-government protests with demonstrators accusing the government of corruption, and calling for elections and the resignation of both Lamothe and then President Michel Martelly.[20][21][22][23]

Canadian Government Sanctions Against Lamothe

On 17 November 2022, the Government of Canada imposed joint sanctions against Lamothe, former President Michel Martelly and former Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant. The sanctions against Lamothe was a response to his allegedly involvement in "gross and systematic human rights violations in Haiti." Specifically Lamothe is accused of supporting violent armed gangs in Haiti that terrorize the population.[24][25][26]

A press release by the office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned that Lamothe is "suspected of protecting and enabling the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs.[27]

Reacting to the news of the sanctions Lamothe issued a statement on November 21st 2022 calling the accusations absurd and that he was shocked to learn about the sanctions through social media. Calling it an "arbitrary decision by the Canadian government", Lamothe ends the statement by demanding a public apology.[28][29]

Personal life

In 2013, Lamothe dated Czech model Petra Němcová,[30] but as of 2015 they are no longer together.[31]

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

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.[32]

Lamothe was named as the Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” title in May 2008.[33] Lamothe brought to the office of Prime Minister an entrepreneurial spirit and dynamism that earned him recognition in November 2014, from the Latin Trade magazine for his innovative skills, naming him the year's Innovative Leader of the Americas.[34] Latin Trade noted that Lamothe "helped establish a paradigm shift for Haiti as a destination for investment, rather than simply for humanitarian aid". Lamothe also received the National Alliance for the Advancement of Haitian Professionals (NAAHP) Golden Honors Award for his outstanding work, integrity and commitment to Haiti and its Diaspora in 2015,[35] as well as the Social Media Person of the Year award in 2015 by the Social Media Association of Haiti.

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.[36]

In December 2015, Lamothe founded the Dr. Louis G Lamothe Foundation (LGLF) in honour and memory of his father Louis G Lamothe.[37] The Foundation will concentrate on the strategies to lead Haiti to emerging country status by 2041. With his lead, after Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti, the Dr. Louis G. Lamothe Foundation has been working in Anse du Clerc to help the town recover from the damages. The Foundation aims to rehabilitate the fishing village and revive its economic activity by repairing the damaged houses and facilitating the acquisition of fishing equipment, among others. The Foundation also aims to make various seeds for agriculture available to the farmers.[38]

In March 2016, Lamothe was inducted to the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame 2016.[39] Laurent Lamothe received the ABiCC Award for Leadership in Global Trade 2016 from the forty Bi-National Chambers of Commerce in Florida in November 2016, for his outstanding work as an entrepreneur, assisting the governments of developing countries in the regulation and globalization of their telecommunications and IT sectors, which helped improve these countries’ competitiveness and economic sustainability.[40] In December 2016, Lamothe was awarded the 9 the MEDays Grand Prize of Solidarity with the Haitian people, for his work with the Dr. Louis G. Lamothe Foundation in Haiti.[41]

In 2017, Lamothe was a guest of honor at the Transform Africa Summit, and shared his vision about the "Internet of Value: Blockchain and the Internet of Things”.[42] At the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos, Lamothe also spoke about Blockchain and how the technology can enhance government continuity and resilience.[43] Lamothe has been invited to participate as a speaker in the Berlin Economic Forum to be held in the German capital on 6–11 March 2018.[44]

In 2019 Lamothe participated as a panelist at Angotic Angola's most recognized innovation forum.[45] He also joined the United Nations Climate Action Summit as a guest speaker at the Smart Climate Day event hosted by the Monaco Better World Forum.[46] Lamothe was inducted into the ‘Power Brand LIFE: Hall of Fame 2019’, for his outstanding achievements in the struggle for equality and human rights in Haiti through his work with his Foundation.[47]

References

  1. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-mct-presidential-decree-names-lamothe-haiti-prime-20120505,0,908081.story[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12775-haiti-politic-the-list-of-possible-prime-minister-being-reduced.html
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b Geffrard, R. "L'hyperactif Laurent Lamothe"[permanent dead link‍]. Le Nouvelliste. 5 January 2012. Retrieved on 23 March 2012
  5. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "Laurent Lamothe | Columbia University World Leaders Forum". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  7. ^ a b cnweeklynews.com, 8 March 2012, Who is Laurent Lamothe? Archived 13 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Cauchy, M. "Who is Laurent Lamothe, CEO of Global Voice Group?" Archived 1 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Defend HT. 1 September 2011. Retrieved on 18 November 2011
  9. ^ a b (in 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 3 November 2015.
  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 20 August 2015.
  16. ^ Ferreira, Tim Padgett with Susana. "Haiti Three Years After the Quake: There's Good News, Too". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  17. ^ Porter, Catherine (12 January 2014). "Haitian earthquake: Daunting challenges remain four years after disaster | Toronto Star". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Haïti – Social : Mission de la FLGL pour relancer l'économie de la pêche à Anse du Clerc – HaitiLibre.com : Toutes les nouvelles d'Haiti 7/7". HaitiLibre.com. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  19. ^ http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12462-haiti-politic-lamothe-in-miami-to-receive-the-bravo-awards.html
  20. ^ "Haiti PM defends tenure after forced resignation". AP NEWS. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  21. ^ CNN, Holly Yan and Christine Theodorou. "Haiti Prime Minister Lamothe resigns after protests". CNN. Retrieved 22 November 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ "Haiti's Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe resigns after protests". BBC News. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Haiti's prime minister Laurent Lamothe resigns amid protests". Reuters. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Canada Imposes Sanctions on Haiti's Former Leader and Other Officials". New York Times.
  25. ^ Canada, Global Affairs (18 November 2022). "Sanctions: Grave breach of international peace and security in Haiti". GAC. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Avant Michel Martelly, Laurent Lamothe et Jean Henry Céant, les USA et le Canada avaient ciblé d'autres Haïtiens". Le Nouvelliste. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  27. ^ Isaac, Harold; Ellsworth, Brian (20 November 2022). "Canada sanctions Haiti ex-President Martelly for financing gangs". Reuters. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  28. ^ News, C. M. C. (23 November 2022). "Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe demands apology from Canada". CNW Network. Retrieved 23 November 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  29. ^ "Haiti - Sanctions : Laurent Lamothe demands an apology from Canada - HaitiLibre.com : Haiti news 7/7". www.haitilibre.com. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  30. ^ Linda Marx (6 May 2014). "Petra Nemcova: I'm 'Very Happy' Dating Laurent Lamothe". People. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ "Press Releases".
  33. ^ "Project Name". www.billionaire.com. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  34. ^ Group, Latin Trade. "Latin Trade Announces Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe As The BRAVO 2014 Innovative Leader Of The Year". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 9 December 2016. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  35. ^ "Former Republic of Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe Receives NAAHP Golden Honors Award". PRWeb. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  36. ^ "Home". lslwi.com.
  37. ^ "Haiti – Social : Laurent Lamothe create a foundation to fight against poverty and exclusion in Haiti – HaitiLibre.com : Haiti news 7/7". HaitiLibre.com. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  38. ^ "Dr Louis G Lamothe Foundation | Knowledge for transformation". fondationlgl.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  39. ^ "Laurent Salvador Lamothe One of the Sunshine State's 2016 Inductees". PRWeb. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  40. ^ "ABiCC: Announcements". www.abicc.org. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  41. ^ "Institut Amadeus: le 9ème grand prix Medays attribué à Haïti". fr.le360.ma. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  42. ^ "Laurent Lamothe, Distinguished Entrepreneur and Champion of Socio-economic Development Through IFD in Emerging Countries Speaks at the Transform Africa Summit 2017". PRWeb. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  43. ^ Disparte, Dante. "One Thing Is Clear From Davos, Blockchain Is Out Of Beta". Forbes. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  44. ^ "Former Prime Minister of Haiti, Laurent Lamothe, Invited as a Speaker to the 2018 Berlin Economic Forum". PRWeb. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  45. ^ Initiative, Angotic; LSL World. "Political Will and Innovative Finance – Key to Making African Smart Cities a Reality". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 16 October 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  46. ^ MBWF, LSL Worldwide Initiative. "Lamothe Advocates for "Climate-Smart Zones" in the Caribbean". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  47. ^ "iciHaiti – London : Laurent Lamothe inducted into the Hall of Fame 2019 – iciHaiti.com : All the news in brief 7/7". IciHaiti.com. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Haiti
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
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