The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has been making his second visit to Haiti since it was struck by a huge earthquake in January, to assess for himself the challenges facing the relief effort.

	Mr Ban gets a first hand look at the Haitian situation

He said the visit would give him a much clearer picture of the situation ahead of an aid donors' conference at the end of the month.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti are living without adequate shelter and sanitation, as the rainy season approaches.

British Airways strike action

Planned industrial action by British Airways staff could have a devastating impact on the Caribbean's tourism industry.

BA's cabin crew announced Friday they will stage two strikes - for a total of seven days - in the run-up to Easter in their dispute over changes to pay and working conditions.

The first stoppage is due to begin on Saturday March 20 and the second at the end of the month.

Regional officials say it would be a serious setback for the tourism industry which is starting to show signs of recovery after taking a battering in the wake of the global economic downturn.

Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlette told BBC Caribbean the action could not come at a worse time.

"There are reports BA is planning to schedule extra flights but if we are not included in those plans, the region will suffer tremendously as the Caribbean will lose the business coming out of Europe and Britain," he said.

Haiti elections

Haitian President Rene Preval says he's been advised that it is possible to hold presidential elections by December this year.

Speaking in Dominica where he was attending the Caricom leaders meeting President Preval said the Organisation of American States has assessed the situation in light of the devastating earth-quake and has recommended that the elections go ahead.

The elections are constitutionally due in November and there has been some debate over whether it's practical to hold the polls this year.

Caribbean Court of Justice

	CCJ currently has two members

Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson says despite indications that several more countries could be joining the Caribbean Court of Justice - that is still far from being good enough.

Speaking in Dominica on Friday, where he was attending a Caricom leaders meeting, Mr Thompson said another two countries could soon have CCJ as their final judicial appellate court.

Barbados and Guyana are the only two members. Belize recently passed the relevant legislation and Dominica could follow.

13 of the 15 Caricom member states can have the CCJ as their final court.

Manning says 'wait for report'

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Prime Patrick Manning has appealed for all concerned to await the publication of a report into the awarding of a specific contract by the state-owned Urban Development Corporation - Udecott.

The company's former executive chairman, Calder Hart, is being investigated over whether he breached regulations in awarding a US$136 million contract.

The probe comes out of allegations by the opposition Congress of the People party which claims to have documents showing that an apparent family link between the Udecott chairman and the company which won the bid.

Police in Trinidad said they have started criminal investigations into Mr Hart who resigned last weekend and left the country.