Bill Clinton Welcomed as First-Ever U.N. Envoy to Haiti

Bill Clinton because the first-even special envoy to Haiti yesterday, and brought with him hope and optimism that was shared by some in the impoverished nation. Some Haitians expressed reserved thoughts on Clinton’s arrival, such as John-Peter Lacoure, an unemployed 24-year-old college graduate, who noted, "If he can make the U.S. work better with Haiti and gets us more money, that would be good." Others are appealing to a higher power than Clinton. Said Patrick Pierre, a street vendor, "Where we are now, the only one who can help us is God."

Such sentiment is not uncommon in Haiti, which has suffered from poverty for many decades. Said Clinton in a statement, "I believe Haiti is better positioned to make progress for all its people than at any time since I first visited in 1978. Last year’s natural disasters took a great toll, but Haiti’s government and people have the determination and ability to lay the foundations for the long-term sustainable development that has eluded them for so long."

Clinton is generally well-known and well-liked in Haiti, especially after using the threat of U.S. military force to oust a dictatorship in the country in 1994. Clinton also sent U.S. Army troops and Marines to Haiti to allow for the safe return to power of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who had earlier be ousted during a coup. Clinton comes to Haiti with a different role now, but many in the country feel good about his arrival. "He is going to be an advocate for the Haitian people," said Michelle Montas, a former radio journalist and spokeswoman for U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.