| Laurent Lamothe | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Foreign and Religious Affairs of Haiti | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 2011 |
|
| President | Michel Martelly |
| Prime Minister | Garry Conille |
| Preceded by | Marie-Michèle Rey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Laurent Salvador Lamothe August 14, 1972 Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
Laurent Salvador Lamothe (born 14 August 1972 in Port-au-Prince) has been the Minister of Foreign and Religious Affairs of the Republic of Haiti since October 2011. He is also known in the telecommunications sector as the co-founder and former CEO of the company Global Voice Group.[1]
Son of Louis G. Lamothe, a doctor in Spanish literature and the founder of the Lope de Vega Institute and of Ghislaine Fortuney Lamothe, painter, he grew up in an academic and artistic, but also athletic environment. His elder brother, Ruben, was the captain of the Haitian Davis Cup tennis team for some time. A player himself, Laurent represented his country at the Davis Cup of 1994 and 1995.[2]
At the same point in time, Laurent Lamothe left Haiti to complete his tertiary studies in the Unites States. After obtaining a Bachelor's degree in political sciences at Barry University in Miami, he turned to business management and obtained a Master’s degree with an honorable mention from Saint Thomas University.
Two years after obtaining his Masters degree in business management, he founded the telecommunications company Global Voice Group in collaboration with his business partner, Patrice Baker.[2] The company started out as a small telecommunications business but is today a worldwide provider of technological solutions in emerging markets and developing countries.[3] This earned him a nomination as “Entrepreneur of the Year” from the firm Ernst & Young in May 2008.[4] Through his company, Global Voice Group, he introduced telecoms governance technologies in Africa. These technologies allow regulation agencies to manage the sector in terms of control, tariff equity and transparency.
He got involved in the political and social life of the country and subsequently led him to accept the post as Special Advisor of the Haitian President Michel Martelly.[4] He also became a member of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (CIRH).
In September 2011, Laurent Lamothe and former President of the United States Bill Clinton co-chaired the Presidential Advisory Council for the Economic Development and Investment in Haiti launched by Haitian President Michel Martelly on September 8, 2011 to help redevelop Haiti by making it more attractive to foreign companies and investors.[5]
Subsequently, Laurent Lamothe was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs 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.[6]