Former Haitian Prime Minister Smarck Michel Dies at 75

Smarck Michel, the former Prime Minister of Haiti, has died.  The 75-year old succumbed to brain cancer, according to his son Kenneth.   Michel started his career as Haitian Prime Minister in 1994 after the US restored Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power.   Aristide had been forced out of the presidency in 1991 during a military coupe.

Aristide’s reputation as a populist liberal was countered by Michel’s reputation as a businessman, which made the Haitian middle and upper class more comfortable.  Michel resigned a year later after he was opposed on his economic plans, which included privatization, to which many Haitians were against.

Michel served for a bit as the commerce and industry minister during Aristide’s first term.  He was removed from power for not lowering food prices enough.   Michel attended college in New York and came back to Haiti to run a bakery that his father started.