Jamaican ambassador to the U.S., Audrey Marks announced this week that she would step down from office, effective March, 2012.

Marks, who is Jamaica's first female ambassador to U.S., gave no further explanation for her decision to leave office.

"I have offered my resignation as is the normal protocol in these circumstances," Marks told the Jamaica Observer from her post in Washington.

The vacuum left from Marks' departure will provide an opportunity for the newly elected Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, to select her choice for the crucial, high profile position. Marks was appointed to the position by the Jamaica Labor Party-led government in 2010, replacing former JLP Member of Parliament and current Jamaica's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Anthony Johnson. Officials from the current People's National Party (PNP) administration have also released no comments on Marks' resignation.

A graduate from the University of the West Indies and Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida, Marks also founded the bill payment agency, Paymaster.

Reports confirm that former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and current MP for San Fernando East, Patrick Manning, is making a stable recovery since his recent stroke on Monday, January 23.

The former political head of the People's National Movement (PNM) suffered a stroke at his Sumadh Gardens residence in San Fernando. He is still checked in at the San Fernando General Hospital for his recuperation.

Chairman of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), Dr. Lackram Bodoe said Manning was in "good spirits" and that his medical staff was pleased with his progress and prospects of recovery.

"The update from the medical team today is that his condition remains stable, there have been some improvements in terms of his speech and movement and he remains in good spirits," said Bodoe. "All his treatment continues, including his physiotherapy."

Medical practitioner Dr. Petronella Manning-Alleyne, Manning's sister, told the Trinidad Guardian that her brother's stroke could possibly have been cause by the artificial valve placed in his heart in 2000, which can often lead to complications and clotting of the blood.

Officials from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries confirmed recently that Belize remains untouched by the current, lethal outbreak of classical swine fever disease in pigs from neighboring Guatemala. Classical swine fever disease, a virus strain that only infects pigs, has occurred across Guatemala, leading to the disposal of over 7,000 pigs.

BAHA, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, also announced a launching of emergency measures to thwart the spread of the disease into Belize's livestock. These measures include: a public awareness campaign; increased monitoring of movement through high risk areas, including 24 hours surveillance of the western border between Belize and Guatemala; strengthening bio-security at farms; and prohibiting the importation of live pigs and pork products from Guatemala.

Classical swine fever, (no relation to the human infecting virus that causes swine flu), is a highly contagious viral disease for pigs, that can often wipe out entire livestock population if not properly monitored and managed.

Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart announced the launch of the Coastal Risk Assessment and Management Program – the first project in the region to assess potential vulnerability to storm surges and tsunamis

"This new program is being viewed with great interest globally, as Barbados will be one of the first countries to incorporate coastal risks into a mature and successful integrated coastal zone management program," the prime minister said at a ceremony recently.

The project will collect data for agencies within the National Emergency Management System, so that a national response procedure can be developed to minimize coastal risks and respond to disasters. Barbados has already signed a US$30 million loan with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) to support the program.

"The Coastal Zone Management Unit's technical team must be commended for the conceptualization and development of its components," said Stuart. "As a result, Barbados as a small island developing state is now a champion of coastal best practices at the regional and international levels and coastal states across the globe are seeking technical assistance and advice from our coastal experts."