Ex-US President Bill Clinton arrives in Dominica

Last updated: 6 February 2018, 10:11 am

Former US President Bill Clinton has arrived in Dominica to view the island’s ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of last year’s hurricane.

He landed at the island's main airport at around 9am local time.

He will also visit the US Virgin Islands, which was struck by Hurricane Irma. He visited Puerto Rico last November.

“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,” Clinton said.

“We have a responsibility to act, for the people who are still suffering, and for all the future generations in the region.”

The Clinton Foundation will be launching an Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery following a meeting with officials from the Caribbean, as well as leaders from business and civil society.

The Action Network will formally convene for a meeting on 3 April at the University of Miami, where stakeholders will continue to work towards Commitments to Action to address the on-going immediate response needs, as well as the long-term recovery in the region. This Action Network builds from the successful Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) model, where leaders from across sectors convene to mobilise resources and implement solutions to addressing pressing global challenges.

Former US President Bill Clinton greeted by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his wife Melissa Poponne-Skerrit on arrival in #Dominica

➡️ https://t.co/onFPE52a0X pic.twitter.com/zhGHVPXDMW — WIC News (@WIC_News) February 6, 2018

Last week, Clinton hosted a planning meeting to catalyse new work and build on existing work that is already helping in the region.

A diverse range of officials from the region detailed the needs on their islands, and met with business and philanthropic leaders to start planning commitments.

President Clinton described development of several new Commitments to Action to be announced at the April meeting, including the rebuilding of 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.