Bill Clinton to lead trade mission to Haiti

Former US President Bill Clinton would be leading a trade delegation to Haiti in October, in his capacity as the UN Special Envoy for Haiti.

Former US President Bill Clinton would be leading a trade delegation to Haiti in October, in his capacity as the UN Special Envoy for Haiti.

HT Image

"We have a unique opportunity to act now to reclaim Haiti's proud past while shaping a better future," Clinton told the Second Annual Congress of the Haitian Diaspora in Miami over the weekend, citing the leadership shown by the Haitian Government and Parliament, expanded US duty-free treatment for Haitian apparel exports, recent $1.2 billion in debt relief from the international community, and the strong resolve of the Haitian people.

"Every single day a child is hungry; a parent comes home without a job, a mother dies in childbirth, a community is uprooted by a storm, the window of opportunity we have today closes a little more," he warned.

Clinton first visited Haiti in his new capacity in July to assess how to support Government efforts to brace the country for hurricanes, generate new jobs and boost the delivery of basic social services.

Last week, Clinton returned from a successful mission from North Korea wherein he won the freedom of two female American journalists who were arrested by the North Korean regime some five months ago.