George W. Bush

President Bush has told U.S. citizens that poverty in Latin America has caused some citizens there to question the value of democracy.

In his weekly radio address delivered Saturday, during a visit to Latin America, Mr. Bush said many citizens of new democracies in the region remain trapped in poverty that keeps them from getting proper education and health care. He said the United States has a vital interest in helping those nations succeed and prosper.

Mr. Bush said the United States is helping new democracies in the Western Hemisphere make their governments more fair, effective, and transparent. He said the U.S. is helping them meet needs like education, health care, and housing, as well as increasing economic opportunities by relieving debt.