Bill Clinton off to Haiti!

Let's see If Good Old Bill can work some magic! I think his fame and charisma could definitely shed some light on this poor half of an Island!

U.N. names Bill Clinton envoy to Haiti

Posted: 08:16 PM ET

From CNN's Meghan Dunn

Former President Clinton said Monday that he wants to help Haitians take control of their own destiny.

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday officially named former U.S. President Bill Clinton as special envoy to Haiti.

The position calls for Clinton to work to create jobs and access to basic services for the people of Haiti.

"All I want to do is help the Haitians take over control of their own destiny," Clinton said.

The U.N. Office for the Special Envoy for Haiti said unemployment reaches 70 percent nationally and 78 percent of Haitians live on less than $2 a day. Even though Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Ban said he believes that it "is at a turning point. It has a real chance for stability and potential prosperity."

Clinton will be working from a plan that was created by the Haitian government.

"They produced, I thought, a very impressive program called 'Haiti: A New Paradigm,' and we intend to follow that," he said.

Clinton said his new job has four major goals: to support the Haitian government in implementing its program; to assist in the recovery effort with the same fervor as was shown toward countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004; to encourage more international private sector investments; and to encourage donors who have promised money for Haiti to honor their commitments.

Governments have pledged $353 million, with the biggest pledges coming from the Untied States, Canada and France. "The challenge now," Ban said, "is to turn these pledges into contributions."

He said he believes that Clinton can accomplish that.

Haiti's minister for foreign affairs, Alrich Nicolas said, "Our country and people could not hope for a better friend and advocate than Bill Clinton.

Clinton, who will be paid an annual salary of $1, added, "I believe Haiti is better positioned to make progress for all its people than at any time since I first visited in 1978."