20 August, 2008 - Published 21:56 GMT

BBC Caribbean News in Brief

Leaders discuss closer ties

The Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada have been visiting three capitals to explain proposals for an expanded union of the Eastern Caribbean.

The two countries along with St Lucia and St Vincent are promoting the integration of Trinidad and Tobago within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States within three years.

A political union of interested nations is also being proposed.

Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago and Tillman Thomas of Grenada visited Basseterre after stopovers in Roseau and St. John's.

Tropical Storm Fay soaks Florida

A tropical storm which has dropped more than 50 centimetres of rain over Florida in the last three days is now heading out into the Atlantic Ocean.

The heavy rains and winds associated with Tropical Storm Fay have prompted flash floods several towns in central Florida and left tens of thousands of people without power.

However, there have been no reports of casualties. The storm had earlier killed 20 people in Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean.

The National Hurricane Centre in Miami says the storm could make landfall again along Florida's border with Georgia.

Caricom praises Bolt

The Secretary-General of Caricom, Edwin Carrington, has extended congratulations to Usain Bolt on his record-breaking victories at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

In his message, Mr Carrington said Bolt's achievement in in the 100 and 200 metres was phenomenal.

"These exhilarating performances completed with world record times in both events, which added further lustre, cemented his claim as the world's fastest man," the Secretary-General said.

Slavery apology "is required"

All the social unrest in the African and black Caribbean population in Britain can be attributed to 200 years of slavery.

That's what a direct descendent of William Wilberforce has claimed.

Lady Davson, the great-great-great granddaughter of the anti-slavery campaigner, made the comments at the unveiling this week of a maquette of a planned slavery memorial in London.

She said the white population of Britain has got to be on its knees to make things right.

Lady Davson said that Britain's key role in both implementing and benefiting from the slave trade meant that the country must lead the way in apologising for slavery.