01 December, 2008 - Published 15:56 GMT

BBC Caribbean News in Brief

UN wants more funds in HIV fight

A United Nations report says more money is needed to ensure that HIV-positive mothers are given access to testing and medication.

The UN says widespread testing and early treatment can significantly improve the survival rates of babies exposed to HIV.

But as the global financial crisis continues, governments around the world are recalculating their future budgets and there are concerns that funding for HIV/AIDS prevention programmes could be cut.

Leonard Okello is the international head of the HIV/AIDS programme at the agency, ActionAid.

He says if money was to dry up, a lot of prevention programmes would suffer, and that would pose a big challenge to health workers.

Manning says T&T not in recession

Trinidad's prime minister Patrick Manning has told nationals that the country is not in recession.

Mr Manning gave the assurance on Sunday night, as he announced major cuts in government spending, in an effort to contain the fallout from the global financial crisis.

He said the government was forced to cut spending because of a fall in global oil prices.

Mr Manning said notwithstanding the slowdown and loss of revenue, the IMF has projected a two percent growth for 2009.

Kings due back home

St Lucia's prime minister Stephenson King and his wife, Rosella Nestor, are expected back home on Monday, after their weekend wedding in Miami.

They have known each other for over twelve years.

Mister King is the second leader to wed in office, after former Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, who married attorney, Professor Rose-Marie Antoine in 2000.

Hurricane season ends

Weather experts say this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which ended on Sunday, was one of the most active on record, with 16 named tropical storms, of which eight were hurricanes - including five major ones.

More than 800 people are known to have died from the storms, many of them in Haiti.

Cuba sustained widespread damage from several storms, but measures such as mass evacuations by the authorities helped reduce casualties.

The storms caused an estimated $54 billion worth of damage.

The season lasts from the beginning of June till the end of November, although storms can form at other times.

Chavez wants extended term

Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez says he wants to amend the constitution to allow him to stand for another seven-year term in office.

Speaking at a televised ceremony in Caracas Mr Chavez, who is due to stand down as president in 2014, said he hoped to remain in power until 2021.

He said there was resounding support for him to remain in office.

Haitian American family considers legal action

The family of a Haitian American who was killed last Friday when shoppers stormed a Wal-Mart store in Long Island, say they may sue the company.

The shop worker died after being knocked to the ground by bargain-hunters who stormed into a superstore in one of New York's suburbs as it opened.

The sister of the 34-year-old man says the family is seeking legal advice and has contacted a lawyer.

Nassau County police have said it is too early to say whether anyone would be charged in connection with the death.