Clinton to co-lead Haiti rebuilding authority

Former US president Bill Clinton will co-chair a committee overseeing at least £2.5bn (€2.8bn) in post-quake aid to Haiti.

Mr Clinton will join Haiti’s prime minister Jean-Max Bellerive as joint head of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, tasked with co-ordinating and doling out aid money.

Both leaders were in New York for a critical donors’ conference at UN headquarters today, where the funds will be requested.

Mr Clinton was approached about the role earlier this week, Mr Bellerive said. The body they lead is expected to last for about 18 months.

Mr Clinton, who as UN special envoy to Haiti visited three times since the earthquake, will probably be spending much more time in the impoverished country in his new role.

“I was pleased to be invited by President (Rene) Preval,” he said.

“The Haitians are committed to building back better – expanding economic opportunities, strengthening basic services and increasing the capacity of government. They want to create a new future for themselves and I am committed to assisting them through the IHRC.”

Besides Mr Clinton and Mr Bellerive, the committee include Haitian politicians, local authorities, union and business representatives and a delegate from the Caribbean Community trade bloc.

It will also have a representative of each donor who is pledging at least £67m (€75m) over two years or £133m (€149m) of debt reduction – currently the US, Canada, Brazil, France, Venezuela and European Union along with the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank and United Nations.