Mr Bouterse was sidelined for a week

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.

Storm dissipates

The fourth tropical storm to form in the Atlantic over the past two weeks, Gaston, has weakened to a tropical depression.

However, forecasters said the system is still a chance it could regenerate as it moved west toward the Caribbean Sea.

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.

Rapist loses rights case

A British court has rejected a claim by a Jamaican rapist that his human rights were violated in the UK prison system.

Andrew Roy Rushford has already been deported to his native Jamaica, which meant that part of the case had to be conducted by telephone link to the island.

He was jailed for six years in 2000 for raping a 13-year-old girl at knife-point - but claimed he was mistreated whilst in custody.

A judge rejected his complaint on Thursday.