ARTICLE - CLINTON EYES FASTER RECONSTRUCTION

IN HAITI, BILL CLINTON EYES FASTER RECONSTRUCTION
(AFP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Former US president Bill Clinton met with Haiti president-elect Michel Martelly to discuss ways to accelerate reconstruction of the earthquake-ravaged country.

Clinton, co-chairman of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC), called on international donors to honor their pledges, preferably by giving money that is not earmarked for specific projects.

Clinton and fellow co-chairman Jean-Max Bellerive, who is Haiti's prime minister, discussed the commission's goals with Martelly, who last month defeated former first lady Mirlande Manigat in the presidential run-off.

"Now, I can say to the IHRC, here is the direction we must take, here is what the Haitian people want and I await the results," Martelly said of the meeting. "If there are no results, we'll see what decision to take."

At the meeting, they identified four ways to speed up progress: improve coordination with the government; strengthen institutional capacity; disburse money more quickly; and accelerate governmental policy reforms.

"Even though we're moving in the right direction, much still remains to be done," Clinton said in a statement.

"Today we discussed specific measures to accelerate the progress of the recovery efforts, ensuring that we build back a better future for the Haitian people," he added.

Clinton, who visited reconstruction projects, said international donors should not earmark funds for specific projects, but rather channel them toward priority programs.

Some of the priority programs include: $100 million needed for removal and establishment of additional dump sites; $56 million needed for the next 12 months to prevent a food security emergency; and many underfunded education programs, including a national school feeding plan.

"We have a comprehensive plan and a series of key programs that are ready to be implemented but we can only rebuild as fast as funds are disbursed," Bellerive said in a statement.

The commission was created shortly after the catastrophic January 2010 quake that killed over 220,000 people, mostly in the Caribbean nation's capital area, leaving massive damage.

Haiti's government plans to take full responsibility of reconstruction in October, when the IHRC's mandate ends.

The former US president said 87 reconstruction projects are currently underway across Haiti.

"Yes, it is important that international donors honor their commitment, yes it is important that the everyone helps. But in the end, the future of Haitian people is in their hands," Clinton said.