By Mayshad Mag
Mayshad Magazine is an advocacy platform for empowerment which mainly focuses on empowering women, raising awareness and exploring a contemporary lifestyle.
Mrs. Menos’s childhood played a key role in forging both the woman she has become today and her journey.
Minister Menos was born in Port Au Prince but raised in Saint-Marc, a large port town located 60 miles from Port-au-Prince, where she lived until the age of eight.
Her most treasured memories were when her father would take her to various provinces in the country to participate in ‘Fête Champêtres’ the Town Patronal Saint Celebrations and other local events.
These outings enabled her to explore and appreciate the immaculate natural sites while being completely engaged in Haiti’s lively culture. From this experience, she was directly able to experience and understand how people from various towns celebrated different holidays.
It is at this age that Jessy began to develop a deep love for Haiti, giving roots to her patriotism.
When Jessy moved to Port-au-Prince, she experienced other aspects of Haiti’s rich culture. Nonetheless, she held onto her treasured memories of Saint-Marc very dearly. As she was completing high school she wanted to pursue a degree in entrepreneurship and tourism but her father disagreed and told her that there would never be a future in tourism in Haiti.
After graduating she traveled to New York to join her brother who had a television show presenting Haiti and its culture. Though she thoroughly enjoyed the experience, she could not ignore Haiti’s calling for her. Once she returned to Haiti, she enrolled at the University of Quisqueya, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Administration. From 1995 to 2011, Jessy held several high profile positions in the private sector.
Jessys’s journey in the Public Sector
In 2011, she received a phone call from the Minister of Justice and Public Safety who asked her to become a member of his cabinet, therefore, her journey in the public sector was set into motion. Shortly after, she joined the Ministry of Social Affairs then the Ministry of Interior where she served as personal assistant to their respective Ministers.
In the year of 2013, she joined the Ministry of Tourism as the Director of Promotion and Public Relations.
Finally, during 2014-2017 Mrs. Menos proudly held the position of Secretary of State for Creative Industries.
In this function, she worked with great care and perseverance to promote Haitian art and craft industries. Acknowledging that these inventive industries are among the world’s most dynamic, influential emerging sectors and its economic potential, she made every effort to increase the generation and exploitation of intellectual property.
On the one hand, to be Minister of Tourism today can be viewed as a natural plotting point in one’s professional career and journey, as opposed to an act of serendipity. Whereas on the other hand, this no-nonsense, confident, dynamic, inspiring and witty woman is driven by her passion, care, and commitment to both her country and her people. As Jessy said, “I did not choose politics, but my sense of patriotism led me to politics”
As Minister of Tourism, Jessy intends to implement tourism policy reforms so that this sector can become one of the country’s major economic growth engines. To accomplish such a goal, she believes that she needs to play a vital role in ensuring that Haiti not only remains on the international touristic map but also resumes its place as one of the top Destinations of the Caribbean.
All in all, Jessy is a passionate advocate for education, especially in the tourism sector. She is a powerful woman with big dreams who is humble and loves the people. As Jessy puts it, “As Minister of tourism, I will promote partnerships with others to build better tourist routes for our families and children and better educate them for a better integration of the peoples, cultures, and ethnicities in our continent. And yes tourism will continue to thrive in Haiti.”
Jessy Menos achievements are an example to us all. The Mayshad Team wishes her all the best and every success for the future, may her future efforts and endeavors be equally successful and rewarding.
By Mayshad Team