St. Thomas University - Haiti Observer Blog

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.

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Coffee used to be Haiti's main agricultural industry; the country is also one of the Caribbean's oldest and original coffee producers. Yet Haitian coffee has been overlooked and unrecognized in the world market. This is due to the difficulty in entering Haitian coffee to the international market, as well as the lack of benefits given to local coffee growers, thus a decline in local production. But recently, new light and hope has been given to the country's declining coffee industry.

The Haitian government, in partnership with Saint Thomas University, launched the Café COCANO Fair-Trade Coffee Project five years ago and has since been able to help boost Haiti's coffee market and assist local farmers in production and compensation. This project is also in partnership with the Cafeiere et Cacouyere du Nord' Ouest Coffee Cooperative, Pascucci Torrefazione, an Italian coffee roaster, and the University's Center for Peace and Justice.

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