Laurent Lamothe
A tech entrepreneur turned political leader who navigated Haiti's turbulent recovery after the 2010 earthquake, championing economic development and foreign investment.
Born 1972 (age 54)·Prime Minister of Haiti from 2012 to 2014·Birthday: August 14·Generation X
Biography
Laurent Lamothe's path to Haiti's highest political office was unconventional, emerging not from the political class but from the world of international business and technology. Born in Port-au-Prince in 1972, he built a successful career as an entrepreneur, founding the global telecommunications company Global Voice Group. This background shaped his approach when he entered public service, first as Foreign Minister in 2011 and then as Prime Minister in 2012 under President Michel Martelly. His tenure was defined by the immense challenge of post-earthquake reconstruction, during which he positioned himself as a modernizer focused on attracting foreign direct investment and leveraging technology for governance. His resignation in late 2014 came amid political gridlock and protests. Since leaving office, Lamothe has remained a vocal commentator on Haitian affairs, frequently emphasizing the foundational need for security and institutional stability as prerequisites for progress.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Laurent was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Laurent Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Laurent's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Prime Minister of Haiti from 2012 to 2014, leading the government during a critical period of post-earthquake reconstruction.
- Founded Global Voice Group, a multinational telecommunications and technology company operating in several countries.
- Appointed as Haiti's Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2011, managing key international relationships following a national crisis.
- Launched the 'Haiti National Fund for Education' initiative aimed at providing free schooling to Haitian children.
Did You Know?
He was a professional tennis player in his youth and represented Haiti in international competitions.
Lamothe co-authored a book on leadership titled 'Survive to Thrive: The Haitian Tragedy and Why Leadership Matters.'
Before entering politics, he was the CEO of a music streaming service called LSL World.
He briefly attended the University of Miami on a tennis scholarship.
“We cannot build a future without first securing the present.”
