Above, from left: Maria Bello, President Michel Martelly and Danielle Saint-Lot (Photo: OP Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Longtime Haiti advocate and American actress Maria Bello has been named a goodwill ambassador for the country, President Michel Martelly announced.

Bello is the latest high-profile American to earn the title, following fellow actor Sean Penn.

Haiti’s Danielle Saint-Lot, the former head of Haiti’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also received the honour.

The goodwill ceremony was attended by US Ambassador to Haiti Pamela White and MINUSTAH Chief Mariano Fernandez, along with Haiti Central Bank Governor Charles Castel.

Bello has been working in Haiti for several years with the group Artists for Peace and Justice on awareness of extreme poverty and the plight of women and children.

She is also the co-founder of the Jacmel Development Group.

During that time, Bello has opened a women’s clinic in Haiti and several education programmes.

Martelly said he was encouraging Haiti’s women ton “contribute significantly” to the reconstruction of the country.