There are growing calls for the Patrick Manning administration to order a commission of inquiry into the embattled Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago - also called Udecott.

The main opposition party, the United National Congress, has declined the government's invitation to be a part of a joint select parliamentary committee to carry out an investigation into the operations of the company.

Udecott is a public body which oversees many government construction projects and has a budget of around US $1.5 billion.

Winston Riley, president of the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry, also backed calls for a commission of inquiry.

He told BBC Caribbean that the limited remit of the parliament select committee would not be wide enough to find answers to the serious allegations being made against Udecott.

Ja’s new security minister outlines anti-crime plan

Jamaica's new Minister of National Security, Trevor MacMillan, has vowed to urgently tackle the causes of the country's notoriously high murder rate but is cautioning that Jamaicans should not expect anything spectacular anytime soon.

	Jamaica's security forces are under pressure to curb a soaring murder rate

Over 4,500 people were murdered in Jamaica between 2005 and 2007, well over 1,300 each year.

Minister MacMillan said he will be seeking to beef up "resources for the police and army to carry out their duties”.

He also said the government would be ramping up social intervention schemes in troubled communities and continuing efforts to rid the police force of corrupt cops.

Antiguan contractors feeling left out

Heavy duty equipment contractors in Antigua have criticised a government decision to engage the services of Brazilian construction magnate Andrade Gutierrez in a major expansion project at the VC Bird International Airport.

Some local contractors are involved in the US $46 million project.

However, other contractors argue that they are being left out of one of the largest capital projects in the country.

Richardson feels Samuels' ban "is unfair"

Former West Indies cricket captain Richie Richardson has spoken out against the two year ban imposed by the ICC on batsman Marlon Samuels of Jamaica.

	Marlon Samuels has been banned by the ICC for two years

Samuels was found guilty of breaking rules designed to stop players betting on matches.

The International Cricket Council says it enforced the mandatory ban on the 27 year old, on the recommendation of the West Indies Cricket Board.

Richardson, who was part of the WICB disciplinary committee that dealt with the Samuels issue, has called the ban "unfortunate", and "unfair".

Dom Rep prepares for elections

People in the Dominican Republic will be heading to the polls in national elections on Friday.

It has been a hotly contested campaign in which issues such as corruption, rising cost of living and poverty dominated.

President Leonel Fernandez is trying to secure a second straight term in office.