CARIBCAN trade deal delayed

A trade deal between several Caribbean countries and Canada has been delayed.



A review of the deal, which is referred to as CARIBCAN, was scheduled for this month.



However, negotiators say the deal has been put on hold until after general elections in Canada which take place tomorrow.



CARIBCAN was established in 1986 and promotes trade, investment and offers Caribbean countries preferential access to the Canadian market.



Some experts said one of the regional banking sectors in the region have not felt the full blow of the global financial crisis is because many of the major banks in the Caribbean have strong ties to Canada.

The handling of the financial crisis by the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is said to be one of the key issues in the Canadian elections