News stories by Bert Wilkinson, page 2

Caribbean leaders are due to meet for a full working week starting Thursday to discuss issues ranging from climate change to the global economic crisis.

Since the year began, China has given the clearest signals yet that Latin America and the Caribbean will be its new commercial and strategic focus, as it doles out billions in soft loans and grant aid, and ties up sweet trade agreements with countries ranging Brazil to finance-starved Cuba.

Earlier this month, the Chinese bauxite mining and processing company Bosai Minerals announced plans to lay off about 20 percent of its nearly 600-member workforce from its mines in southeastern Guyana.