Police on Monday detained dozens of protesters in Guadeloupe, after the demonstrators stepped up their nearly month-long strike action by setting up roadblocks on the French Island.

	Strikers step up their action

Both Guadeloupe and Martinique are in the grips of a general strike over the high cost of living.

The action degenerated into clashes between police and protesters, with the police making at least a dozen arrests and dragging away strikers by force as they tried to remove barricades blocking the main routes to the Guadeloupean capital Pointe-a-Pitre.

The protesters had previously blocked roads with cars and groups of people, but Monday marked the first time they built barricades.

Police investigating fires

Antiguan police say they are probing what's thought to be election-related violent acts in which the constituency offices of two candidates of the opposition Antigua Labour Party were set on fire.

The police are treating both as arson cases.

The ALP has issued a statement condemning the acts and encouraging supporters to refrain from violence.

But it also sought to blame the governing United Progressive Party for the incidents.

On Monday the Antigua Christian Council appealed for a peaceful campaign.

Its president, Catholic priest Father Frank Power, told BBC Caribbean the council had called for tolerance and restraint, and intended introducing a code of conduct when the election date is announced.

Opposition weighs in on CLICO issue

Barbados' Prime Minister David Thompson has been challenged to provide total disclosure on the financial health of financial company - CLICO Barbados.

	Opposition wants reassurances

Barbados' Central Bank is injecting up to $5 million into CL Financial's affiliate company, CLICO Mortgage and Finance Corporation.

Opposition leader Mia Mottley has asked for more assurances for CLICO's policy holders that their investments are not at risk.

Premier Misick stepping down

Premier Michael Misick will step down as leader of the Turks and Caicos Islands at the end of March, citing a lack of support for his scandal-plagued government.

Mr Misick will, before that, quit as leader of the governing Progressive National Party at the end of this month.

The announcement came on the heels of the resignation of two government ministers last week.

The Turks and Caicos government has been the subject of a Commission of Inquiry into corruption allegations in recent months.

BBC journalist Trish Flanagan who has worked in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and is closely monitoring the developments there, says the resignation of the two ministers may have prompted Mr Misick to re-examine his own position.

Panday leadership under attack

Two leading members of the United National Congress have stepped up their campaign for Trinidad and Tobago's main opposition party to engage in internal party elections.

	His critics claim that Mr Panday has great difficulty uniting the party

These two top members of the UNC have been leading a campaign for a change in the party's leadership.

Their statement suggests that this would make the UNC more attractive to the electorate.