Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is set to take another key role in Haiti’s reconstruction, the Miami Herald reports. Clinton has accepted an invitation by the Haitian government to co-chair the proposed Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, which will take charge of reconstructions efforts over the next 18 months.
“The Haitians are committed to building back better - expanding economic opportunities, strengthening basic services, and increasing the capacity of government,” said Clinton March 30 at a long-awaited Haiti donor conference in New York. “They want to create a new future for themselves and I am committed to assisting them.”
Clinton, who will remain U.N. special envoy for Haiti, added that the creation of an interim panel will help fast-track the implementation of projects and ensure transparency and better coordination of international assistance and help from the Haitian diaspora.
Haiti President Rene Preval welcomed Clinton’s commitment and said that having him on board is a “prestige.” Preval acknowledged that his government needs international support, but he emphasized again in New York that the reconstruction process should be led by Haiti.
