After months of intense negotiations and delays, Caricom leaders appear set to sign the controversial economic partnership agreement with Europe on Wednesday.

There has been much criticism of the EPAs, with various non-government organisations claiming it is not in the best interest of the Caribbean.

	Guyana's Bharrat Jagdeo (centre) has tried to convince colleagues to delay EPA signing

A former head of the regional negotiating machinery Sir Shridath Ramphal has also called for a delay in signing the agreement, in light of the global financial crisis.

All but two Caricom member states, Guyana and Haiti, have said they will sign.

Guyana, still critical of the trade deal, has been negotiating two final terms and conditions with the European Commission.

Another year for MINUSTAH

The UN Security Council has renewed for one year, the mandate of its peacekeeping forces in Haiti known as MINUSTAH.

The council has urged the mission to continue assisting Haiti's police to ensure security.

	UN troops in Haiti

The 15-member council was unanimous in adopting the resolution extending MINUSTAH's mandate which expires on Wednesday, to 15th October 2009.

The Security Council decided to maintain the mission's troop strength at 7,060, along with a police component of 2,091.

Hurricane and storm warnings announced

The fifteenth storm of this year's hurricane season, Tropical Storm Omar, on Tuesday intensified to near hurricane strength.

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands have been placed on hurricane warning, while Antigua was under hurricane watch.

Tropical storm warnings were issued for St Kitts, the BVI, Anguilla, St Marten.

The storm's winds increased to seventy miles per hour, just under the threshold for a hurricane.

Jamaican teachers threaten strike action

The Jamaica Teachers Association is locked in talks with the government, in an effort to resolve a long standing salary dispute.

It goes back to 2006, when the teachers demanded that they be paid within eighty percent of what their counterparts in the private sector earn.

The results of a study, commissioned by the former administration, said that the government should meet the teachers' demands.

The educators are threatening protest action if a compromise is not reached.

John feeling left out

Dominica is at the moment busy celebrating the country's 30th anniversary of political independence with countrywide Reunion activities - but the man who took the island down that route on 3rd November 1978 has complained about being sidelined.

Patrick John was removed from office in a popular uprising in 1979.

Under Freedom Party rule some years later he was convicted and sentenced to jail for attempting to overthrow the democratically elected government of Dame Eugenia Charles.

Mr John headed the Dominica Labour Party in 1978 - it is a labour government in office today, but the Roosevelt Skerrit administration has paid little attention to Patrick John.

The former prime minister says it's clear that his presence is not wanted at official functions.

Hamilton deal turns sour

The status of a multi-million dollar hotel deal involving Formula One Race Driver Lewis Hamilton that has ended up shrouded in controversy remains unclear at the moment.

The deal involved Briton Hamilton, who has Grenadian roots, acquiring the 240 room Grenada Grand Beach Resort on the popular Grand Anse Beach in the south of the island.

The hotel is owned by Trinidadian hotelier Issa Nicholas.

	Lewis Hamilton, is his mind on hotel development or formula one racing

But the 20 acres of lands occupied by the hotel are on leasehold from the Grenada Government for 90 years.

A deal was struck between the previous Keith Mitchell administration and the Hamilton Group to transfer the freehold of the land worth about 15 million US dollars.

But some Grenadian nationals have criticised that move, and called for a review of the arrangement.

The new NDC government has said that the contractual deal is above board.

Tobago police hunting killers

Police investigations are continuing in Tobago, into the killing of a Swedish couple last week.

The victims were found hacked to death last Thursday, inside their villa in a tourist district.

Two suspects, who were arrested on Friday, have since been released.