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Clinton, Investors Work On 'Marshall Plan' for Haiti

They're trying to create 'composite plan' to rebuild the nation

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 19, 2010 4:24 PM CST
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(Newser) – Bill Clinton and Ireland's Denis O'Brien—Haiti's biggest foreign investor—are collaborating on a "Marshall Plan" for the nation. The leader of Irish telecom Digicel urged companies to re-invest in the earthquake-stricken nation. "Obviously we need foreign direct investment, but on a wider front we need a Marshall plan, O'Brien tells AFP. "That's what we've been discussing with president Clinton—how do you put together a composite plan for the rebuilding of Haiti right now."

Digicel has invested $400 million into building a mobile network for Haiti, vastly expanding cell phone access for the island's inhabitants. The firm has given $5 million for direct aid relief and is working to repair its network. In one respect, Digicel is in a good position—its 12-story headquarters in Port-au-Prince was built to international standards and was not toppled by the quake.

Former president and U.N. special envoy for Haiti Bill Clinton, left, talks to Dr. Paul Farmer, of Partners in Health, right, while touring the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Jan. 18, 2010.
Former president and U.N. special envoy for Haiti Bill Clinton, left, talks to Dr. Paul Farmer, of Partners in Health, right, while touring the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Jan. 18, 2010.   (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Former president and U.N. special envoy for Haiti Bill Clinton, second from left, shakes hands with soldiers of the Joint Task Force-Haiti in Port-au-Prince, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010.
Former president and U.N. special envoy for Haiti Bill Clinton, second from left, shakes hands with soldiers of the Joint Task Force-Haiti in Port-au-Prince, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010.   (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
justme
Jan 20, 2010 12:23 PM CST
Clinton failed to help Haiti when he was president. Hopefully, he and Bush get it right this time.
Big_D
Jan 20, 2010 7:34 AM CST
I saw this comming.....Read the "Shock Doctrine". It was the same with the sunmi victomes. Big business will take over while the people are in shock.Back to slavery they go. It's not as though they havn't suffered enough, now this.
Frisky_Dingo
Jan 20, 2010 2:44 AM CST
Hold the phone: the IRISH are Haiti's BIGGEST investors? Really? Doesn't that seem odd?

 
Bill Clinton • manufacturing • Port-au-Prince • Haiti earthquake • Haiti earthquake damage • bill clinton haiti relief • haiti earthquake news • Haiti relief • Haiti rebuilding

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