WYCLEF JEAN, BAN KI-MOON, BILL CLINTON VISIT HAITI TO RAISE GLOBAL AWARENESS AND NEEDS OF DEVASTATED COUNTRY
Port au Prince, Haiti – Haiti Goodwill Ambassador, Wyclef Jean
arrived in Port au Prince yesterday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former U.S. President Bill Clinton in an effort to bring worldwide awareness to Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti, which has been hit by a series of devastating storms over the past year, desperately needs help after more than 800 people died and over 1 million people were left homeless or in desperate need of recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Jean, who is from Haiti and has lead in efforts to help rebuild, educate, and create jobs with his Yéle Haiti foundation was invited to accompany the former President and Secretary-General tour the region. “I was honored to show my support when they asked me to join them on this important humanitarian trip which also gave them the opportunity to experience the beauty underneath the devastation my country and its people have had to face. It’s crucial for me to do all I can to raise awareness and help Haiti get through this tough time.”
While in the country, they visited a Yéle sponsored feeding program at a school in Cité Soleil and an education leadership program in Turgeau, met with President René Preval and senior government officials, and a walking tour of Sonapi Industrial Park. Before the three headed off on a plane back to the US, Jean attended a press conference where Clinton and Ban summarized their trip and discussed the Hope II US trade deal which gives Haiti direct access to US markets for apparel without duty; a bill that Jean lobbied for extensively before it was passed.
Also invited on the trip were renowned physician Paul Farmer, who works extensively in the region, Deputy Chairman of the Toronto-Dominion Bank Frank McKenna, and several other business leaders.
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