A package of news briefs from the Caribbean

JAMAICA: Island set to guarantee free health care for every child in public hospitals

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) _ Public hospitals and clinics in this Caribbean nation are preparing to guarantee free health care for every child, a government statement said Saturday.

Under the new policy, services in the public health system ranging from surgeries to drug prescriptions will be free of charge to all Jamaicans 18 and younger. The policy was recently announced by Prime Minister Portia Simpson and takes effect Monday.

"The government has endeavored to be responsive to the needs of our people, even in the quest for economic growth and fiscal responsibility," said Simpson Miller, who announced the reform policy ahead of this year's general elections.

Health Minister Horace Dalley advised parents and guardians to take their child's school identification, passport or birth certificate to health facilities to prove their age.

"In the final analysis, a bill will be generated but the bill will be stamped 'exempt'," Dalley said. "The hospital will still have to track the cost of the health care provided."

Children and adolescents make up nearly a third of Jamaica's population, according to government statistics.

Adults receiving care in public hospitals, which are used primarily by impoverished Jamaicans, must continue to make co-payments for treatment such as emergency services and medication.

CARIBBEAN: Region's cane growers concerned EU offer on sugar imports not enough

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) _ Caribbean sugar producers are concerned the European Union's offer on future sugar imports will not be enough to make up for deep subsidy cuts to regional cane growers, a Guyanese official said Saturday.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said the 25-nation union was prepared to announce details of its regional accords with countries in the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific to supplant a decades-old trade deal between the EU and former European colonies.

"We await final confirmation of the figures," Persaud said.

The EU imposed a 36-percent cut last year in its sugar subsidy system, which had artificially kept prices higher than world market levels. For years, the EU gave former colonies preferential access to its markets and paid high prices to encourage development.

Two Caribbean nations _ Trinidad and St. Kitts _ have been squeezed out of the sugar industry because of the cuts and high production costs.

The EU is aiming to integrate the former colonies into the world economy by increasing and diversifying their trade. After more than 30 years of preferential access to the EU, the countries still export just a few basic commodities, the prices for many of which are in long-term decline.

CUBA: Raul Castro meets with Ecuadorean vice president

HAVANA (AP) _ Acting Cuban President Raul Castro met with Ecuador's vice president to discuss ways to strengthen already warm relations between the two countries, state media reported Saturday.

The Communist Party newspaper Granma said Lenin Moreno spoke with Castro on Friday afternoon, discussing bilateral issues and "other topics of interest to the situation in Latin America and the rest of the world." It provided few further details.

The Ecuadorean vice president expressed his admiration for Fidel Castro, who stepped down in favor of a provisional government headed by his 75-year-old brother Raul in late July.

"All Ecuadoreans are ... aware that his health is improving," Moreno said of Fidel Castro. "May he recuperate, not only for the benefit of his people, the Cubans, but for the spirit of all of Latin America."

The 80-year-old Fidel has not been seen in public since announcing he had undergone a series of emergency intestinal surgeries and was temporarily stepping aside. His condition and exact ailment remain state secrets, though top officials have insisted for months that he is improving.

Cuba's convalescing "maximum leader" has signed 12 written essays in recent weeks, releasing one Friday that slammed U.S. President George W. Bush for securing funding from Congress to continue the war in Iraq without setting a timetable for troop withdrawal.

CRICKET: Sidebottom, Pietersen put England into commanding position against West Indies

LEEDS, England (AP) _ Kevin Pietersen hit his first test double century Saturday and Ryan Sidebottom took six wickets in a day to put England in a commanding position in the second test against West Indies.

England declared on 570 for seven on the second day at Headingley after Pietersen was caught for 226 when going for another big hit.

Sidebottom then took 4-24 for his first test wickets six years after he made a disappointing debut and England bowled the West Indies out for 146. Following on, the tourists were 22-2 at the close, both wickets falling to the left-arm swing bowler.

With rain forecast later in the match, England will try and finish on Sunday to go 1-0 up in the four-match series.

With captain Ramnaresh Sarwan still off the field after damaging his shoulder by diving over the boundary trying to stop a four on Friday, West Indies delayed taking the new ball until the 10th over of the day and Pietersen and Prior scored freely off the old one.

"I was very surprised," Pietersen said. "I knew that meant we had time to get ourselves in before we start facing the new ball. I don't know what their reasons were."