Haiti Prime Minister Nominee Clears Second Hurdle Haiti's Senate has taken the first step toward installing a new prime minister by ratifying a foreign affairs minister for the position. The favorable vote of 19-to-3 Tuesday night means the candidacy of Laurente Lamothe must now go before the Chamber of Deputies for final approval. The 39-year-old Lamothe is a close friend to President Michel Martelly and ran a telecommunications business before turning to politics. Lamothe also is co-chair on the government's economic advisory board. Martelly's government has been without an official prime minister since February. The caretaker official, Garry Conille, abruptly resigned after sparring with the president. The absence of a prime minister in Haiti has done little to speed up reconstruction efforts following the massive January 2010 earthquake.