Prime Minister - Haiti Observer Blog

The atmosphere after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was taken out of office in 2004 was expectedly tense. His elected prime minister, Yvon Neptune was first-hand witness to this when, following the removal of Aristide, on March 2, he was almost arrested by a mob claiming he should face corruption charges.

It is said that Guy Philippe was the leader of this crusade and his motive had been in retaliation for interviews Yvon Neptune had given to various news bodies in America and Europe. After having served as Prime Minister since 2002, he found himself replaced by an unelected, provisional new government and the country's 12th Prime Minister, Gérard Latortue.

Read more →  

The second female Haitian to become the Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti was Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis. Born on 5th October 1947, Michele stayed in office from 5th September 2008 to 11th November 2009. Since 1995, Michele has held the post of Executive Director for the non-government organization called Knowledge and Freedom Foundation or FOKAL. She was elected as Prime Minister by former President of Haiti, Rene Preval. Michele was the third nominee by Preval as the Chamber of Deputies rejected the first two nominees.

Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis's nomination was approved by 61 in-favor votes against 20 abstentions and 1 opposing vote. After this approval on 17th July 2008, Senate approve Michele Pierre-Louis with 12 in-favor vote, 0 opposing votes and 5 abstentions. On 25th August the composition of the newly formed government was announced by the then President Rene Preval and Michele was appointed Prime Minister. Apart from the role of Prime Minister, Michele was appointed as Minister of Public Security and Minister of Justice.

Read more →  

Haiti's third Prime Minister, Jean-Jacques Honorat, came to the post after the 1991 coup which deposed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his appointed Prime Minister, René Préval. Honorat, born on April 1, 1931 in the nation's capital, succeeded to the post under the new, provisional President, Joseph Nérette, but, like many others on the list of 17 since 1988, Honorat's stint would be short-lived and terminated after military dissatisfaction. He'd spent eight months in office before being fired after failing to garner the lifting of international sanctions put on Haiti. He also served from October of 1991 to the end of the year as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship.

Read more →  

The role of Prime Minister in Haiti is not an easy one to fill; just ask anyone on the list, including Yvon Neptune and Former Haitian Prime Minister Robert Malval, though one was forced out of office while the other chose to leave.

Born in Port-au-Prince on the 11th of July, 1943, Malval was 50 years old and had accomplished a sound career outside of politics before his nomination by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1993.

After studying internationally, in the United States at the University of Miami where he earned a political science degree, and in Paris where he undertook graduate studies in International Affairs, Robert Malval seemingly lost interest in politics and took to working for his step-father, who was proprietor of a printing house. He later quit to pursue his own publishing and printing company, and carried on to be a successful businessman before turning his sights back to the world he'd studied to be a part of, politics.

Read more →  

Marc Louis Bazin who was functionary of the United Nations and Minister of Finance and Economy in the Haitian government was born on March 6th, 1932. The military which had seized power made him the Prime Minister in June 1992.

Grew To Be a Favorite of US

Soon Marc Louis Bazin became the President of Haiti and continued in the post for a year. He was the favorite Haitian presidential candidate for the Bush administration in US. The military dictatorship was harming foreign relations and the government had gone in for free elections.

Read more →  

The Haitian Prime Minister heads the country's government and shares executive powers with the head of state. The holder of the Prime Minister post is appointed by the incumbent president and gets approval from the National assembly.

The Prime Minister has the responsibility of law enforcement vested upon him and works alongside the president to ensure national defense.

Previous Haitian Prime Ministers:

February 9, 1988 - June 20, 1988 - Martial Célestin

June 20, 1988 - February 13, 1991 - Post abolished

Read more →  

A cabinet reshuffle is commonly the only way to solve economic and social challenges faced by any country.

A cabinet reshuffle makes a way out for non-performing ministers and replaces them with fresh leadership. The action may also have ministers reassigned to different ministries. The exercise is done to get a non-performing nation back on course.

Prevailing leadership problems are as a result of the absence of proper management and vision in the government of a country and putting in place a new team helps regain confidence.

Read more →  

Two universities in South Florida have expressed their appreciation towards alumni and Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe for his political efforts and contribution. Lamothe received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Barry University, where he graduated in 1996. He got a degree in Political Science at the university, which also gave the award to two other alumni - podiatric physician Dr. Luis Marin and Mimi Watson Sutherland. Sutherland spearheads Jackson Medical Center's GATE program.

Lamothe welcomed the award, saying that it was such an honor to receive such recognition from his alma mater. If not for Barry University, he would not be the man he is today, Lamothe added. The award is given to Barry graduates who have made great achievements in their fields, as well as those who uphold the university's values and mission. Business leaders, politicians, coaches, and teachers, among others, have been recognized in the past.

Read more →  

In the Haitian politics Levaillant Louis Jeune started taking some crucial movements in the recent time. A lot has become a debate about the next Prime Minister of Haiti. The initial two weeks of May 2012, have been very decisive and also filled with lot of political controversies. The disputes for the selection of the new Prime Minister have been ratified. Laurent Lamothe is the new Prime Minister and Levaillant Louis Jeune, the president of the Lower House, presented a formal letter to announce his General Policy.

A lot of turbulence was seen in the house for the selection of the new Prime Minister of Haiti. The voting process was not simple and there was a lot of fuss and cry. Few Senators also walked down in protest and did not cast their votes. But, the majority of the house favored Laurent Lamothe and with 60 percent of votes in favor, he is chosen the next Prime Minister of Haiti.

Read more →  

Prime Minister of Haiti Laurent Lamothe has set his sights on corruption, fraud, and smuggling in the country. He announced his determination and commitment to battling these crimes at a meeting with representatives of the Economic of Private Sector of Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The attendees of the meeting discussed measures aimed at fighting corruption in the government and other sectors, as well as tax fraud and smuggling incidents occurring along the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Lamothe called for a public-private partnership among the business people in order to crackdown on Corruption, Tax Fraud and Smuggling. The Haitian Prime Minister said the partnership can create a new policy aimed at making a much-needed change. Laurent Lamothe believes that putting an end to such crimes can lead to higher government revenues. And higher revenues mean better resources for the government to use in development efforts.

Read more →