The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that relatively robust economic growth will return to the Caribbean in 2011.

It expects gross domestic product or total output total to increase by 4.3% next year after the more sluggish 1.5% anticipated this year, and 0.4% experienced in 2009.

The figures are contained in the IMF's latest World Economic Outlook.

The Fund said prospects vary across the region, although the recovery was likely to be less strong in commodity-importing economies in the region that have large tourism sectors.

These include Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados and St Lucia.

Weaker prospects for tourism, coupled with limited policy room to support the recovery, are expected to weigh on near-term growth, the IMF said.

The Caribbean region comprises the Dominican Republic and the 14 independent members of Caricom (Caribbean Community).

Cricket travel schedules revert to normal

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dropped contingency plans to fly up to seven teams from Dubai to the World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

This follows the easing of restrictions on flights across Europe after a volcanic ash cloud decreased considerably.

The ICC had made alternative plans for Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, South Africa and Bangladesh to transit through Dubai before being flown to the Caribbean on a charter flight.

The ICC decided on Wednesday, though, there was no need to alter the original plans to fly through Europe.

Ireland, Zimbabwe and West Indies are already in the Caribbean for the 30 April start of the tournament.

New Zealand will fly there via the United States.

Open skies back in Europe

After almost a week of paralysis caused by ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland, European skies are slowly re-opening to flights.

Air travel analysts say, however, that with almost 100,000m flights cancelled, it could be weeks before the backlog of stranded passengers is cleared.

Flights to and from the Caribbean have resumed.

Virgin Atlantic said its first departure from London Gatwick was the 9.30am (UK time) to Antigua, while its first arrival at the airport was a flight from Barbados due to land at 1pm.

Thousands remain stranded in the Caribbean, providing welcome occupancy for many hotels.

Business fall-out from ash fall

The aviation lock-down is also threatening to bring the season's third disaster to Guadeloupe's melon producers.

They have been unable to get their product on flights destined for Europe.

Growers have had to contend with an exceptionally dry season as well as a volcanic eruption on Montserrat, whose ash fallout destroyed crops in Guadeloupe.

Victor Nanette, the president of the French Caribbean Melon Growers group, said the annual export market of 3,000 tonnes had been cut by four-fifths as a result.

He is already calling this year a 'catastrophe'.

Bajan Minister says sorry

A Barbados government minister has apologised over his role in incident which led the opposition to call for a ban on firearms in and around parliament.

Economic Affairs minister David Estwick however denied he brandished or threatened anyone with a firearm.

The opposition Barbados Labour Party had called for his dismissal, without saying precisely why.

Dr Estwick said he regretted getting involved in a heated argument with two members of the opposition within the precincts of parliament.

He made a statement at a sitting of the House of Assembly boycotted by the opposition.

New dispute facilitator named

The United Nations has confirmed the appointment of Jamaican academic, Professor Norman Girvan, as a special representative in the search for a solution to the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.

The position has remained unfilled since the death in January 2007 of Barbadian Oliver Jackman.

Third party pushes amnesty

The Liberal Democrats, the third party fast gaining ground in the polls, are defending their general election plan to give an amnesty to illegal immigrants who've been in the UK for more than a decade.

The Conservatives, the main opposition party, are condemning the idea, arguing it rewards criminal behaviour.

But the Liberal Democrats Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne says it's a practical move.

The Conservatives say they'll put a cap on immigration from non-EU nations while the governing Labour Party has imposed a skills-based system of controls.