UN Envoy Bill Clinton Makes First Trip to Haiti

In May, the United Nations' Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed Bill Clinton to be the UN's special envoy in Haiti. Now, the former U.S. President will make his first trip to the country in his new portfolio.

While Clinton already visited the country earlier in the year with the Secretary General and others, this marks the first time he will visit Haiti as a UN special envoy. His trip will last three days. Haiti is the poorest and least developed nation in the Western Hemisphere and has faced years of political deadlock, economic ruin and natural disasters. The impoverished country is home to over 9 million people. When he was appointed to the post, Clinton expressed hope for the situation in Haiti. He said the Haiti's recent "natural disasters took a great toll, but Haiti's government and people have the determination and ability to `build back better,' not just to repair the damage done but to lay the foundations for the long-term sustainable development that has eluded them for so long.'' Clinton recently said that he believes that Haiti has the chance to escape the poverty that has stricken the nation for years and that it was his intention to help improve the lives of Haitians. He added that "All I want to do is help the Haitians take over control of their own destiny...That's all I have ever wanted for Haiti, and that's all the secretary-general wants." Among his objectives, Clinton hopes to help Haiti achieve stability, increase investment in the country, helping to create jobs, and ensuring donors honour their commitments. He will also help reverse Haiti's dramatic deforestation. While not everyone is sold on Clinton's mission to Haiti, Ban said that that "no one is better placed" than Clinton to achieve what is necessary in Haiti, and the Associated Press reported that the former President retains widespread popularity in the country.