Former President Bill Clinton Working on Efforts Toward Hurricane Recovery in the Caribbean

Former President Bill Clinton

     Former President Bill Clinton is lending his convening powers and the Clinton Foundation’s resources to help the hurricane struck Caribbean as it struggles to rebuild months after hurricanes Irma and Maria.  At the request of leaders in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, the Clinton Foundation said Thursday that it will launch a new organization — the Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery — on behalf of the two U.S. territories and two eastern Caribbean nations to secure long-term investments to help. The first meeting will be held April 3 at the University of Miami with 300 to 400 representatives expected from businesses, government and non-governmental organizations.

      “Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Caribbean community are in need, and we must answer that call,” Clinton said in a statement. “Together with leaders from government, business, and civil society, we can demonstrate what is possible when we come together and bring our collective will and resources to bear on this crisis. We have a responsibility to act, for the people who are still suffering, and for all the future generations in the region.”

     On Wednesday, Clinton presided over a meeting in New York where representatives of some of the governments and others involved in the recovery detailed the needs of the islands. Following the meeting, Clinton announced commitments to rebuild schools and homes in Dominica; the installation of solar equipment at primary care clinics in Puerto Rico; and the distribution of remote Zika testing for pregnant women across the region. He and others hope to build on those commitments as they solicit additional investments in the areas of energy, infrastructure, health, education and economic development. Clinton plans to visit Dominica and the U.S. Virgin Islands next week to see recovery efforts firsthand.

     This story has a lot more to it and you can read it inits entirety at

  http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article197761039.html