Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said Haiti enjoyed the backing of its Latin American neighbors more than ever on Tuesday as he spoke on the opening day of the Americas Conference.

``There has never been a time...that Latin America has supported us better,'' Clinton told an audience of hundreds at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. ``This is the best chance they've ever had to escape the chains of the past.''

Clinton's comments came as part of what he called a ``progress report'' on his work as the United Nations' new special envoy to Haiti, a country he's been visiting for 34 years.

In his remarks, he spoke about the need for non-governmental organizations in Haiti to coordinate better as well as on the importance of a recycling project that uses garbage-made briquettes to conserve charcoal while cleaning streets.

He promoted tours in Haiti as a way to lure two to four million tourists.

``It would create huge numbers of jobs,'' he said.

Clinton also recalled how Haiti enjoyed the backing of only Argentina when he helped restore former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide back to office in 1994. Now, he said, Haiti had the support of many Latin America countries -- including Venezuela and Cuba -- to help Haiti dig out of an economic hole, following devastating storms last year.

Haiti is the ``one place we agree on with Venezuela and Cuba,'' Clinton said. ``We're all helping. Beyond politics.''

A Haitian activist echoed Clinton's sentiments.

``It's true Haiti was isolated,'' said Aude Sicard, a South Florida advocate for immigrant healthcare. ``I can't repeat it enough -- that Haiti's at a turning point. It's because of Haitians and Haitians outside of Haiti that we feel this momentum.''