A fungus that causes premature ripening in fruit has been found spreading among various crops in the Eastern Caribbean.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States has warned that the fungus, known as Black Sigatoka, could seriously affect the agricultural industries of member states.
The OECS Secretariat said that the fungus is more aggressive than another crop disease, Yellow Sigatoka, and can cause up to 50% of a banana crop to be destroyed.
There are also concerns that as well as losing crops the cost of preventing the spread of the disease is a real burden to farmers.
The Windward Islands are of particular concern to the OECS as they already have a fragile banana industry.
Sigatoka can be spread by wind, water, insects and humans travelling from farm to farm.
The OECS is advising that quarantine experts be more vigilant.
Last-ditch death row appeal
A St Kitts born British woman on death row in the United States yesterday filed a last-ditch appeal at the Supreme Court, in a bid to save her life.
Fifty-one year-old Linda Carty was convicted in 2002 of the abduction and murder of a 25-year-old woman, in a trial campaigners say was flawed.
A video plea will be submitted to the Supreme Court, along with an appeal from her legal team and a document from the British government outlining its concerns over her sentence.
If Friday’s appeal fails, Carty could be executed within months.
