Presidential
The Personality of Presidential Advisor, Laurent Lamothe
- Monday, July 25, 2011 5:31 PM
Laurent Lamothe was born in Port-au-Prince in August of 1972. Today, he serves as a Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Haiti, Michel Joseph Martelly.
Lamothe is the son of Dr. Louis G. Lamothe, founder of Institute Lope de Vega, and Ghislaine Fortuney Lamothe. Growing up in Port-au-Prince, Delmas 60, Lamothe was raised in a middle-upper class family.
He obtained a primary education at Saint Louis de Gonzague and secondary at the Union School. For post-secondary, Lamothe studied in Florida, USA, earning his Bachelors in Political Science from Barry University and a Masters in Business Administration and Management from St Thomas University; graduating with honors.
Laurent Lamothe played tennis and represented Haiti in many international tournaments, including the world famous Davis Cup. As a college athlete, Lamothe was ranked among the top 16 tennis players from 1992-1995.
For demonstrating excellence, the student-athlete, Laurent Lamothe, was enshrined on the "Wall of Honor" at Barry University for academic and athletic achievement.
Lamothe and President Michel Joseph Martelly met in the year 2000 when he organized an event with a friend of the former entertainer. Participating in investments and leading his own companies, Laurent Lamothe, earned Entrepreneur of the Year from Ernst & Young in 2008.
President Michel Joseph Martelly has now made Lamothe one of his senior advisors. At the age of 39, Lamothe is one of the youngest members in the president's cabinet.
Assisting the Head of State is a challenging task to which Mr. Lamothe says, "a lot of hard work and tough decisions are made daily, but I like the role of being able to help my country get back on its feet... we have a good team of advisors, competent, and willing to put 19-20 hours a day for Haiti."
Laurent Lamothe counsels the president on matters of policy, namely investment boards, "100 Day Plan" management, as well as, investment and technological policy. Lamothe coordinates the weekly activities of the President focusing on the important expectations of the Haitian people and advising strategies for their accomplishment.
Lamothe is working to see major reforms in Haiti. "I would like to see Haiti improve one step at a time and having the illiteracy rate cut from 80 to 50%, the GDP per capita improved from $450 US to 800 after 5 years and I would like to see direct foreign investment return to haiti..." to which he reiterated again, "we work 19-20 hour days."
The president's advisor made an opportunity of our conversation to tell the young Haitian people all around the world a few words:
"Come and help us, we are open and look forward to using the talents you have acquired abroad to help your country. We are at a crossroad and need you."
The technicalities of Laurent Lamothe and his work are one thing but we wanted to learn of his personality. To those ends, we put Mr. Lamothe to a Proust Questionnaire.
Your favorite virtue.
Patience and patriotism.
Your favorite qualities in a man.
Honesty and directness.
Your favorite qualities in a woman.
Sincerity
Your chief characteristic.
Resiliency and focus.
What you appreciate the most in your friends.
Kindness and advice.
Your main fault.
Perfectionist.
Your favorite daily occupation.
Internet, working out.
Your idea of happiness.
Fulfilling your dreams.
Your idea of ultimate misery.
To be a failure and not achieving your goals.
If not yourself, who would you be?
Good question, have to think about this.
Where would you like to live?
In Haiti.
Your favorite color, flower and animal?
Blue, sunflower, dog.
Your favorite author and your favorite book.
Tom Clancy.
Your favorite poet and your favorite poem.
Amado Nervo, At Peace.
Your favorite fictional hero and heroine.
William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Your favorite actor and actress.
Denzel Washington, Demi Moore, and Sophie Marceau.
Your favorite leader in exercise.
President Michel Martelly and President Barack Obama.
Your favorite artist, favorite musical artist.
My mom Ghislaine Lamothe.
Your hero and heroine in real life.
Yannick Noah.
What characters in history do you most dislike?
Adolf Hitler.
Your favorite food and drink.
Haitian Griot of course.
Your favorite names for people.
Linka (my daughter's name) and Lara (my second daughter's name).
What you hate most in/about life.
Hypocrisy, lack of vision and absence of strategy.
The military event or social act or political event that you most admire.
The fight for the independence of Haiti.
The reform in the world that you most admire.
African-American Civil Rights Movement.
The reform you wish would be made in Haiti.
Better inclusion of the Haiti people into the decision making.
The natural talent you wish you had.
I wish I could play the piano.
How do you wish to die?
I wish to eventually die knowing that I have made a positive difference in Haiti. This is the legacy that I would like to leave behind.
What is your present state of mind for your personal life?
Good.
What is your present state of mind for Haiti, on political, economical or cultural issues?
Optimistic.
For what fault have you most toleration, for what fault have you least toleration?
I tolerate the most people who try hard and give their best and do not succeed, than people that are underachievers; people that don't give their best to try to solve a problem.
Are you connected and how?
Yes, always.
Your favorite newspaper, periodical, radio, website or television.
Time Magazine, and Le Nouvelliste.
Your news addiction, in regards to Haiti?
All of it.
Your favorite language.
English and Creole.
Do you believe in God?
Yes.
Your favorite motto in life.
Honesty and kindness to others are the keys to success.
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