Wyclef Jean Defends Haiti Charity Spending
Wyclef Jean has spoken out to defend his Haiti charity after the organisation's finances came under scrutiny over the weekend (26-27Nov11).
A report in the New York Post questioned how bosses at Jean's Yele Haiti foundation had spent the $16 million (£10 million) collected through fundraising since the devastating 2010 earthquake.
The report, published on Sunday (27Nov11), suggested charity chiefs had "spent a pittance" of the money raised for emergency efforts, but the Fugees rapper has hit back, insisting he is "proud" of how the charity has been run since it was established.
In an official statement, he writes, "We did the best we could with the available resources. I am proud of the way that Yele handled the crisis on the ground in 2010. We were able to feed, clothe, provide medical assistance and shelter for more than 250 thousand people in need.
"I have acknowledged that Yele has made mistakes in the past, including being late in Irs (Internal Revenue Service) filings, but that is old news. When I entered politics last summer, I transitioned from being a board member and chairman of Yele Haiti to a supporter.
"The new and good news is that Yele under new leadership, despite efforts to undermine its credibility and effectiveness, continues its mission to serve people in need."
