COLOMBIAN CITY GETS READY FOR 'SAINT BILL' CLINTON

CARTAGENA, Colombia (Reuters) - A day before he sets foot on Colombia's
Caribbean shores, this colonial-era port was awash on Tuesday with tales of
the miracles of ``Saint Bill.''

Antonia Sarmiento, 73, has even set up a little shrine to President Clinton
in her humble home and keeps two white candles constantly burning alongside
his photo.

``For me President Clinton is a saint because thanks to his visit, (City
Hall) has built me a house that I wasn't able to afford in 52 years,'' she
told Reuters.

Sarmiento had lived in a one-room wooden shack in a working-class
neighborhood of Cartagena from 1948 until just a few days ago.

But when City Hall realized the unsightly tumbledown dwelling was just
yards (meters) away from a new courtroom that Clinton is due to dedicate
during his daylong visit here on Wednesday, workmen went to demolish the
building and construct a new brick house in its place.

``There's been no money for public works programs for many years here. But
from one moment to the next workmen have been appearing and getting the
jobs done. It's a miracle,'' taxi driver Alfredo Montero said, pointing out
workers repaving streets and painting rusty railings.

Clinton will be the first U.S. president in a decade to come to Colombia, a
nation ravaged by a long-running war between Marxist guerrillas, outlaw
anti-communist paramilitary gangs, state security forces and
narco-traffickers.

Earlier this month, Clinton gave final approval for the payment of a record
$1.3 billion in mostly military aid to help Colombia fight the booming drug
trade and the guerrillas.

Critics have condemned the aid as a sign of growing U.S. intervention. But
the locals in Cartagena are more concerned with the practicalities rather
than the politics.

Colombia's unemployment rates are currently the highest in Latin America
but Clinton's trip has provided temporary relief for at least 1,500 jobless
locals.

``I got a job thanks to one of Clinton's miracles,'' said William Castro,
who had been out of work for three years until City Hall took him on to
carry out emergency maintenance work.'' It would be great if he could come
at least once a year.''