20 August, 2008 - Published 12:05 GMT

BBC Caribbean News in Brief

Support for political union

One University of the West Indies lecturer says the time has come for regional governments to change their attitude to the integration process.

Richard Crawford was commenting on the recent announcement by four Caricom countries, to proceed with plans for an economic union.

The Jamaica government, has some reservations, but Mr Crawford says integration will be in the interest of Caribbean people.

"I think in the world in which we live, that is a prescription to try and level the playing field in the interest of Caribbean people.

"We're coming of age now where the criteria for flexibility in politics has got to be the watchword, rather than traditional outdated techniques and strategies and viewpoints," Mr Crawford told BBC Caribbean.

Enough room for Carifesta patrons

Organisers of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) in Guyana say there are sufficient hotel rooms to host the delegations and patrons expected in Georgetown for the event.

Contingents from 32 countries are expected for the ten-day festival.

Culture minister Frank Anthony said several new hotels built for last year's Cricket World Cup, will add to the traditionally small stock of beds to cater for participants.

Mr Anthony said bed and breakfast facilities are also available for spectators.

Caracas-London agreement ends

An agreement between Venezuela and London that saw cheap oil being exchanged for city planning advice, ended on Wednesday.

The deal, which came into effect a year ago, had allowed London's mayor to offer half price bus travel to the elderly and least well off.

In return, the city's transport experts provided advice to authorities in Caracas about tackling traffic congestion.

But the agreement was always controversial and seen by critics as a political tool.

Florida braces for another hit from Fay

The US state of Florida is preparing for what could be another hit from Tropical Storm Fay.

Weather forecasters are predicting that the storm to get a dose of energy on Wednesday, when it moves over the Atlantic Ocean.

They also say it could linger until Thursday, possibly reaching hurricane strength.

A hurricane watch has been posted for parts of north Florida and Georgia.

Some farmers in the region are hoping that a soaking would boost crops hurt by a lingering drought.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre says Fay is expected to produce between five and ten inches of rainfall over east and northeastern Florida, and up to five inches in the northwestern Bahamas.