During the electoral campaign, HaitiLibre will publish texts, portraits and biographies of each participant in the presidential race so that the voters can better know those which aspire to the presidency of Haiti. [The texts reproduced are those provided by candidates, parties or appearing on their official website and are not texts written by HaïtiLibre].

Today we invite you to discover the candidate Leslie Voltaire (Platform Ansanm Nou For)

Leslie Voltaire is an architect and urban planner. He is married and father of three children. He was born on July 11, 1949 in Port-au-Prince and attended secondary school at the St Martial College in Port-au-Prince. He holds a diploma in architecture from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a Master in urban and regional planning from Cornell University (NV; USA).

He worked for over 30 years in both the public and private sectors and acquired extensive experience in public affairs management, in his capacities as Minister of Education, Minister of Haitians living abroad (author of the Law which restored most of the economic rights to the members of the Diaspora), and Special Envoy to the United Nations, in charge of liaising with President Clinton. He also acquired extensive grass-roots experience as a practicing urban planner/architect in large scale projects in private and public sectors, such as the design of a master plan and detailed architectural plans for a low cost subsidized housing complex realized in the Port-au-Prince area, or as consultant in the development of the soccer academy. He was a Professor of architecture during 15 years at the State University of Haiti.

As Presidential candidate in Haiti's November 2010 forthcoming election, Leslie Voltaire is committed to provide the country with very strong foundations on which Haitians can build a better future for their children. The task will be difficult after the January 12 earthquake which destroyed so many lives and weakened dramatically the economy. However, thanks to his extensive knowledge of the country and its people, his experience in public policy and international relations, the trust he benefits from the middle class, workers, farmers and business leaders, and his ability to mobilize competent professionals and team members around his political compact, Leslie Voltaire is likely to be the only candidate fully qualified to respond successfully to the challenge which Haiti is facing today.

HaitiLibre invites the candidates approved to forward to us for publication, their portrait or biography as soon as possible.

HL/ HaitiLibre