Jacques-Édouard Alexis
Encyclopedia
Jacques-Édouard Alexis (born 21 September 1947) is a Haiti
an politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Haiti from 1999 to 2001 and was Prime Minister for a second term from 2006 to 2008 when he was dismissed due to political fallout from food riots.
, Haiti on September 21, 1947. He attended school at Lycée Geffrard in Gonaïves (1959–1964) and later Lycée Toussaint Louverture in Port-au-Prince
(1964–1966). He received a degree in agricultural engineering from the State University of Haiti in 1973.
After graduation, Alexis held a series of jobs in academia. He was an assistant professor of chemistry at the State University of Haiti from 1973 to 1976 and a teaching and research assistant at Université Laval
, Quebec
, Canada
, from 1977 to 1978, earning his master of science
degree in food science and technology from Université Laval in 1979. He was then a professor of food technology and post-harvest technology at the State University of Haiti (1979–1987), a professor of post-harvest technology and human nutrition at Ecole Moyenne d’Agriculture (1979–1985), and Dean of the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine at the State University of Haiti (1985–1987). Between 1987 and 1990, he coordinated the founding of the University of Quisqueya, where he served as the school's first rector from 1990 to 1995.
Under President René Préval
, Alexis served in the government as the Minister of National Education, Youth, and Sport (1996–1999), Minister of Culture (1997–1999), and Minister of the Interior and Territorial Communities (1999–2000).
on December 15 and by the Chamber of Deputies
on December 17 despite an unfavorable report regarding his management of funds as Minister of Education. Completion of the ratification process requires ratification of the nominee's proposed cabinet and general policy; Alexis's final ratification was delayed by the insistence of opposition leaders that they receive cabinet posts. Parliament passed a bill extending their term so that they could continue the ratification process, but Préval denied that they had authority to do so, announcing on January 11 (the final day of the parliamentary session) that he intended to bypass Parliament and form a government by decree. Opposition parties accused Préval of having staged a bloodless coup and considered Alexis an illegitimate prime minister. Alexis served as Prime Minister from 26 March 1999 to 7 February 2001.
party, the Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats
, the Struggling People's Organization
, and Jean-Bertrand Aristide
's Fanmi Lavalas
party. His stated policy objectives included the restoration of security in the country and the provision of basic services to citizens.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Haiti from 1999 to 2001 and was Prime Minister for a second term from 2006 to 2008 when he was dismissed due to political fallout from food riots.
Early life and career
Alexis was born in GonaïvesGonaïves
Gonaïves is a city in northern Haiti, the capital of the Artibonite Department. It has a population of about 104,825 people . The city's name derives from the original Amerindian name of Gonaibo. It is also known as Haïti's "independence city"...
, Haiti on September 21, 1947. He attended school at Lycée Geffrard in Gonaïves (1959–1964) and later Lycée Toussaint Louverture in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
(1964–1966). He received a degree in agricultural engineering from the State University of Haiti in 1973.
After graduation, Alexis held a series of jobs in academia. He was an assistant professor of chemistry at the State University of Haiti from 1973 to 1976 and a teaching and research assistant at Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, from 1977 to 1978, earning his master of science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in food science and technology from Université Laval in 1979. He was then a professor of food technology and post-harvest technology at the State University of Haiti (1979–1987), a professor of post-harvest technology and human nutrition at Ecole Moyenne d’Agriculture (1979–1985), and Dean of the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine at the State University of Haiti (1985–1987). Between 1987 and 1990, he coordinated the founding of the University of Quisqueya, where he served as the school's first rector from 1990 to 1995.
Under President René Préval
René Préval
René Garcia Préval is a Haitian politician and agronomist who was the President of the Republic of Haiti from 14 May 2006 to 14 May 2011. He previously served as President from February 7, 1996, to February 7, 2001, and as Prime Minister from February 1991 to October 11, 1991.-Early life and...
, Alexis served in the government as the Minister of National Education, Youth, and Sport (1996–1999), Minister of Culture (1997–1999), and Minister of the Interior and Territorial Communities (1999–2000).
First term
Alexis was nominated as Prime Minister by Préval on July 16, 1998, following congressional rejections of three prior nominees that had resulted in a year-long political crisis. His nomination was preliminarily ratified by the SenateSenate of Haiti
The Senate of Haiti is the upper house of Haiti's bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. The lower house of the National Assembly is the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate consists of thirty seats, with three members from each of the ten administrative departments. Prior to the creation of the...
on December 15 and by the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Haïti
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of Haiti's bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. The upper house of the National Assembly is the Senate of Haiti. The Chamber has ninety-nine members who are elected by popular vote to four-year terms...
on December 17 despite an unfavorable report regarding his management of funds as Minister of Education. Completion of the ratification process requires ratification of the nominee's proposed cabinet and general policy; Alexis's final ratification was delayed by the insistence of opposition leaders that they receive cabinet posts. Parliament passed a bill extending their term so that they could continue the ratification process, but Préval denied that they had authority to do so, announcing on January 11 (the final day of the parliamentary session) that he intended to bypass Parliament and form a government by decree. Opposition parties accused Préval of having staged a bloodless coup and considered Alexis an illegitimate prime minister. Alexis served as Prime Minister from 26 March 1999 to 7 February 2001.
Second term
Préval was re-elected in February 2006, and he again nominated Alexis as Prime Minister on 17 May 2006, three days after taking office as President. The nomination was ratified almost unanimously by both houses of parliament, and Alexis and his government were sworn in on 9 June 2006. His second government consisted of a coalition of six parties, including Préval's LespwaLespwa
Fwon Lespwa is a Haitian political coalition headed by René Préval, who served as president from 1996 to 2001 and from 2006 to 2011. The name Lespwa is the Haitian Creole form of the French l'espoir, meaning "hope". The coalition's full French name is Front de l'Espoir...
party, the Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats
Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats
The Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats is a political party in Haiti. In the presidential elections of 7 February 2006, its candidate Serge Gilles won 2,62 % of the popular vote. In the 7 February 2006 Senate elections, the party won 9.9 % of the popular vote and 4 out of 30 Senators, taking...
, the Struggling People's Organization
Struggling People's Organization
The Struggling People's Organization is a Haitian political party originating from the Lavalas political movement...
, and Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide is a Haitian former Catholic priest and politician who served as Haiti's first democratically elected president. A proponent of liberation theology, Aristide was appointed to a parish in Port-au-Prince in 1982 after completing his studies...
's Fanmi Lavalas
Fanmi Lavalas
Fanmi Lavalas is a leftist political party in Haiti. Its leader is former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It has been a powerful force in Haitian politics since 1991. Fanmi Lavalas governments supported a policy of "growth with equity" based on Caribbean and Western European social...
party. His stated policy objectives included the restoration of security in the country and the provision of basic services to citizens.