MIAMI SHORES, Fla.--Former Bucccaneer tennis and current Prime Minister of Haiti Laurent Lamothe was honored with Barry University’s Distinguished Alumni Award on Saturday.
Lamothe, born in Port-au-Prince, completed his undergraduate work at Barry, with a major in political science and a minor in French. He was a star tennis player; in 1993 he was the first Barry men’s tennis player to be named an ITA All-American and he represented Haiti at the Davis Cup in 1994 and 1995. He compiled a 46-29 career record, mostly from the number one position. In 2000, he was named to the Athletics Wall of Honor for his achievements as a Barry Buccaneer.
Lamothe began his political career by accepting the position of Special Advisor to Haitian President Michel Martelly and became a member of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti. In 2011, Lamothe and former U.S. President Bill Clinton co-chaired the Presidential Advisory Council for the Economic Development and Investment to help redevelop Haiti by making it more attractive to foreign companies and investors. Subsequently, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Haiti and formally appointed Prime Minister on May 4, 2012.
Prior to joining the Haitian government, he worked mostly as an entrepreneur in the telecommunications industry.
The award is presented to the most prestigious graduates of Barry University for their professional achievements, contributions to society and support of the university.
Other honorees included Luis Marin, a podiatric surgeon at Leon Medical Center, and Mimi Watson Sutherland, a neurosurgical specialist at Jackson Health System.