There has been another escape from St Lucia's main prison.

Police reports say that a 20-year-old convict serving a one year sentence for possession of marijuana and causing harm, got away from a residential unit at the Bordelais prison on Sunday afternoon.

Prison officers searching for the runaway also found a dead body in the vicinity of the correctional facility.

Police are investigating both the homicide and the prison escape.

Last month three convicts made a daring escape while masked gunmen exchanged fire with prison guards.

They are still at large.

Help for small businesses

With the Caribbean still reeling from the effects of the global financial crisis, more attention is being placed on the development of small and medium enterprises.

And the region has been getting help from the International Finance Corporation - an arm of the World Bank - in developing those entities.

The IFC's Programme Manager for access to finance for Latin America and the Caribbean, Greta Bull, says Canada is also funding an IFC programme for supporting small businesses.

Castro speaks

	Mr Castro addressed university students on Friday

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has appeared in public in his military uniform, for the first time since stepping down as president four years ago.

The revolutionary leader wore the cap and uniform - minus the star and laurels he formerly held as commander in chief.

Speaking for over an hour to students at the University of Havana on Friday, Mr Castro repeated his warning that the world stands on the brink of a nuclear conflagration because of tension pitting the United States and Israel against Iran.

Mr Castro told the students that it's possible to win this fight so that human life be preserved.

Special meeting on food prices

The United Nations has called a special meeting to discuss the recent rise in food prices across the world.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said the meeting later this month was in response to widespread concern expressed by its member countries.

Food prices have risen by 5% in the past two months, triggered in part by Russia's ban on wheat exports after drought and wildfires destroyed a fifth of its crop.

There have been riots in Mozambique and growing public anger in several other countries over the price rises.

The FAO said however, that the 24 September talks was not an emergency meeting.

The organisation also dismissed comparison with the situation in 2008 where food shortages and rising prices sparked riots in developing countries, including Haiti.

The prices of rice, beans and fruits went up by fifty percent in Port-au-Prince between 2007 and 2008.

Bouterse eyes Guyana trip

Suriname's new President, Desi Bouterse, is back on the job after dengue fever confined him to home for a week.

Mr Bouterse said his illness would have no effect on plans to make his first overseas trip as president to Guyana on Monday.

In Georgetown, he is expected to discuss a proposal to build the first bridge between the two countries as well as trade and joint crime-fighting strategies.

He said he had chosen Guyana for his first trip because he wanted the two neighbours to become development partners.

Jagdeo issues climate challenge

The President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that many Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations are in no position to receive funds from the $10 billion in climate aid pledged by developed nations.

He told a Caricom ministerial meeting that member countries ought to give priority to getting themselves project-ready.

St Lucia's Prime Minister, Stephenson King, suggested that the Caribbean Development Bank may be used to channel international funds to help the region cope with the effects of climate change.

MP's suspension stands

Suspended Antiguan opposition MP Gaston Browne will have to wait until the new session of the House of Representatives to retake his seat.

Mr Browne was suspended on June 15 after he was said to have instigated the gallery to chant: "Baldwin Spencer Must Go" as the Speaker was making her way out of the chamber
near the end of the morning session.

He sought to get his suspension lifted at Thursday night's session by submitting a written apology.

But most government MPs scoffed at the letter and voted down an opposition motion by nine votes to six.

NY gets carnival-ready

The economic troubles in the United States are hurting this year's West Indian Day Carnival in New York.

Some revellers say tight finances are forcing them to drop out of masquerade bands or cut back on elaborate costumes.

Organisers also say fund-raising has become more tricky.

But they still expect quite a show for Labour Day on Monday.