Former President Bill Clinton To Visit U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica Next Week

Former President Bill Clinton will visit the U.S. Virgin Islands and Dominica next week, as part of a trip that sees him traveling the storm-ravaged Caribbean islands to see first-hand the damages wrought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

These islands, whose leaders continue to struggle with their recovery initiatives, will be boosted by the Clinton Foundation’s resources through a new organization called the Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery. The new organization will provide support to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda by, among other means, securing long-term investments to help the recovery efforts. The first meeting will be held on 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,” Mr. 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.”

Mr. 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.

The new organization is being launched at the request of leaders of the aforementioned affected territories and countries — U.S.V.I., P.R., Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, according to the foundation.

On Wednesday, Mr. 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, according to the Miami Herald. Following the meeting, Mr. 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, according to The Herald. Mr. Clinton and others hope to build on those commitments as they solicit additional investments in the areas of energy, infrastructure, health, education and economic development.