The Untold Story of a Haitian Entrepreneur Who Accidentally Became Prime Minister, Then Helped Rebuild the Country in 932 Days

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 7, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For a brief period, from 2012 to 2015, the emerging nation of Haiti experienced a season of extraordinary progress and increased security. Plagued by decades of disasters, man-made and natural, this period marked a time of hope in Haiti. This was in large part the result of a hands-on, inclusive government set up and managed by the young businessman turned Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. This book tells a story of Haiti most don't know, one in which the country accomplished something together unprecedented--in record time. It should serve as an example for the rest of the world.

Providing an eye-opening account of governance, healing, and a country rebuilding, The Hands of the Prime Minister: An illustrated conversation with Haiti's longest serving head of government (Brand Hotel Publishing, June 15, 2021; ISBN: 978-0-4733542-6-8; Hardcover; 184 Pages; $54.99) features a foreword by Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian Sean Penn and an introduction by photojournalist Philip Holsinger. At the heart of the book is a conversational interview between Holsinger and Lamothe. Available for pre-order now at handsoftheprimeminister.com.

Lamothe was Haiti's youngest and longest serving Prime Minister in modern times. During his tenure, which began in 2012, shortly after the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010, Lamothe presided over the design and implementation of an unprecedented social policy agenda targeting the poorest sectors of the Haitian population; a massive nationwide building effort including schools, bridges, and roads that are clearly visible throughout Haiti today; and a direct foreign investment strategy that saw such investment increase to its highest level in a generation. His success is credited to his managerial approach in leading the troubled nation. Lamothe and his staff developed channels of communication with all levels of society, including the many-sided opposition.

The infrastructure and social programs implemented during this time have been compared to the vast building efforts in the U.S. following the Great Depression. The Hands of the Prime Minister reveals what was done in private, out of public view. Lamothe found a way to work with the whole of the people and rebuild a divided country. As the reader learns, Lamothe was almost always the last to leave.

"In following Laurent throughout the interview process for this book, I was able to provide a deep-dive into the changes made during his time in office," said Holsinger. "His common sense solutions, made by listening to the people, provided remarkable outcomes. What he created in record time still exists today--he essentially rebuilt a country in 31 months."

Holsinger is a photojournalist and writer who has worked in some of the world's most volatile regions observing conflicts and human peril. He was on the ground for Lamothe's entire tenure after accepting an offer to join the Prime Minister's staff. He observed the national developments—good or bad—and made a public record. For nearly two years, with complete freedom and independence, he crisscrossed the country. His expansive photo collection showcasing the heart of Haiti and the record he created are shared with readers for the very first time in The Hands of the Prime Minister.

Thirty-one months is only a fraction of the time needed for development, however, Lamothe shows that with good will, persistence, public accountability, and perseverance, Haiti can get better. In The Hands of the Prime Minister, Lamothe states, "To change the culture of a country you must first change the culture of your own house."

Lamothe's Haiti is proof of what happens when leaders truly listen—to people and communities struggling the most – and make common sense decisions that have significant outcomes. The Hands of the Prime Minister is a reflective narrative on a country being brought together and the infrastructure created to set it on a new path. This book is for people interested in a political record, dynamic management practices and a conversation among friends. It is a love letter to a country.

Additional Praise:

"…The essence of Laurent Lamothe's book is the recognition that government is the servant of the people and I hope that the spirit evoked here will thrive and reach fulfillment as Haiti continues on the path of reform."
—Tony Blair, former prime minister, UK Government

"…While this book and its images reflect a common spirit of a beautiful country and its people, so does it subtly infuse the omnipresence delegated by its leadership to provide the flesh of the hands that were on, and what demanded a ubiquitous hands-on political commitment: The hands of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. … Let this book be your introduction to an extraordinary man and country."
—Sean Penn, Academy Award-winning actor, humanitarian

"Just as the people of Haiti nourish our souls with their courage and strength in the face of adversity, Laurent's book is sure to inspire more members of the global community to help build and protect beautiful Haiti."
—Sir Richard Branson, founder at Virgin Group

"Laurent connected the dots where he collaborated and communicated the needs of Haiti, bringing leadership and his guidance to all those who wanted to help preserve and rebuild the country. Laurent brought the understanding of Haiti's past, its present and was a visionary for its future."
—Donna Karan, fashion icon and philanthropist

"Former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe's book is a must read for all who seek proof that inspired leadership can bring real progress in even the toughest circumstances of poverty and underdevelopment. …In this beautiful, highly readable volume, you can see, hear and feel the power of real public service—of listening, learning, and striving to give back to the people."
—General Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe

"I have never seen a man work harder, with so much commitment to create change, with so much belief in a brighter future and mainly with so much love for his people, the people of Haiti! All this for the better lives and brighter future of his beloved "Haiti Cherie."
—Petra Nemcova, supermodel and philanthropist

"When Haiti is mentioned, the phrases that come to mind at once are 'disaster,' 'hopelessness,' 'despair. This remarkable account of the achievements of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, and particularly how they came about, reveal dramatically how wrong this picture is. The fascinating discussion and remarkable photos present a story of triumph over adversity by people who take their fate into their hands and advance confidently towards a far brighter future, a truly inspiring revelation with very broad implications."
—Noam Chomsky, philosopher, linguist, social critic

About the Authors:

Laurent S. Lamothe
Lamothe was the youngest and longest serving Prime Minister of Haiti in modern times. During his tenure which began just after the massive earthquake which devastated Haiti in 2010, Lamothe presided over the design and implementation of an important social policy agenda targeting the poorest sectors of the Haitian population; a massive nationwide building effort including schools, bridges, and roads that are clearly visible throughout Haiti today; and a direct foreign investment strategy that saw such investment increase to its highest level in a generation. Lamothe is a world-renowned innovator having founded in 1998 Global Voice Group SA (GVG), today considered a world-leading provider of ICT solutions for telecoms and fiscal authorities in 49 countries around the world.

Following his successful tenure as Prime Minister Lamothe has focused his efforts on strengthening institutions serving the poorest of the poor. In 2015, Lamothe founded LSL World Initiative (LSL), a global organization specializing in innovative financing for development and dedicated to the socio-economic empowerment of developing and emerging countries.

In December 2015, Lamothe founded the Louis G. Lamothe Foundation in Haiti in honor and memory of his father Louis G. Lamothe, a renowned educator. The Foundation focuses on inclusive social entrepreneurship and a Think Tank focused on strategies that will lead Haiti towards emerging country status by 2041.

In his early years, Lamothe was an accomplished tennis player, competing as a collegiate amateur in the Davis Cup, and as a professional member of Haiti's World Cup team.

Philip Holsinger
Philip "Flip" Holsinger is an American photojournalist and writer reporting in the immersive style of Tom Wolfe's New Journalism. He has lived and worked in some of the world's most notorious regions recording the intimate lives of people and nations. His assignments have included documentation of the aftermath of genocide in Bosnia, the "war on drugs" in southeast Asia, and the plight of fringe peoples such as Nicaragua's Miskito Indians once at the heart of the "Iran-Contra" rebel controversy. In the process, Holsinger has lived with Buddhist monks in Thailand, rebel soldiers in the jungle of Nicaragua, the warlords in Cité Soleil, Haiti, and nomadic shepherds in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia (where he was fired upon by rebel snipers).

Holsinger served as a private contractor for the Haitian Primature from April 2013 to September 2014, documenting the social and ethnographic effects of the government's national development projects.
Holsinger's works appear mostly in immersive, mixed-media installations, original books, and private contract reporting. His work has been featured in major publications and broadcasts, including CNN, NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, Cincinnati Enquirer, and National Geographic Online. His contracts have included The United Nations, The Republic of Haiti, The Republic of Kosovo, and the U.S. Senate. He has also authored three books of photojournalism and two collections of poetry: The Hands of the Prime Minister: Foreword by Sean Penn (2021); A Tourist of Saints: Afterword by Petra Nemcova (2014); Unembraced: Photographic Dispatches (2010); Five Poems for My Mother and Father (2020); and Winter Fragments: Selected Poems (2014).

In 2017, Holsinger was hired to turn his lens toward his home country on a pro bono public service initiative called "We Are Nashville," designed to capture and highlight the city's true character and its most intimate human stories. After three years on the assignment, the work has received numerous local and regional awards, including one for Holsinger himself as the 2021 Art Director of the Year.

Media Contact

Kaitlyn Kurosky, High10 Media, +1 2129182040, [email protected]

SOURCE Laurent Lamothe

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