Wyclef Jean Announces Haiti Bid
Wyclef Jean The former Fugees star revealed on Larry King Live that he is planning to run in the November elections in the country, which was devastated by an earthquake earlier this year. The 37-year-old musician - who was born on the Caribbean island, but grew up in the Brooklyn area of New York after moving there as a child - has been instrumental in raising funds for those affected by the natural disaster. He has also helped to raise awareness about underprivileged children, AIDS and poverty in his Caribbean homeland since he shot to fame.
Speaking from Haiti last night, Wyclef was surrounded by a large group of supporters as he confirmed his election bid. "After January 12... being out here with my wife and picking up dead bodies from the ground, I felt that because of the youth of Haiti and the population that this is not even Wyclef saying that 'I want to be the president of Haiti.' I feel like I'm being drafted by the population right now to give them a different face, a different voice," he explained. "What qualifies me to be president of Haiti, when I look at the past 200 years, with what our people have suffered, Wolf - political instability, coup after coup d'état - I feel that me running, it brings a neutral situation, meaning that Wyclef Jean can sit with any political party and have a conversation. I'm coming in neutral.”
Wyclef went on to outline his plans for education, jobs, agriculture and healthcare.
He also asked all his famous friends to back his bid and announced he would be launching a fundraising website to fund his campaign.
