The Ministry of Agriculture of Natural Resources and Rural Development announces with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing away Thursday of the former Minister of Agriculture, the Agronomist François Séverin, at the age of 70 years (11 December 1946), in his residence, following a long illness which he courageously endured.

Pierre Guito Laurore, the Minister of Agriculture, would like to inform the bereaved family, the Corporation of Agronomists and other professionals in the agricultural sector of the emotion that he feels following the sad departure for the beyond of this intellectual to whom the Nation expresses its greatest gratitude.

The Agronomist François Séverin, Minister of Agriculture on five occasions, is a heavy loss, the Ministry of Agriculture knows how deeply the role of this high level executive was in the vast extension campaign, the installation of collective tanks in the rural environment, in the promotion of agricultural development and in research in Haiti. The Ministry of Agriculture will retain the memory of this man so warn and the agricultural sector will never forget its famous research and its wonderful publications in Creole like "Rat Se Zenglendo" published in 1995, "Plant Ak Pyebwa Tè d'Ayiti" published in 2002, "Chèche Grenn Banbou" published in 2005 and "Ti zwazo kote w a prale" published in 2007.

The Ministry of Agriculture expresses his condolences and sympathy to his children, to his family, in particular to his brother the Agronomist Arnoux Sévron, the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and other relatives and friends affected by this mourning. Peace to his soul, Sit tibi terra levis.

The Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Séverin family, will provide the date of the funeral at the appropriate time.

The de facto President Jocelerme Privert "presents his sincere condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the agronomist François Severin who has served his country worthily. The Republic loses one of its executives experienced and competent by this death. President Privert salutes the memory and the journey of this rare value among the great servants of the Haitian State."

Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles learned with dismay the news of the death of the former Minister of Agriculture Francois Séverin "In this painful circumstance, the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government salutes the departure of Mr. Séverin and sends his sympathies to the relatives and friends of the deceased."

HL/ HaitiLibre