CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

St Lucia's Prime Minister Stephenson King may be willing to sign the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe after all, a senior government official has revealed.

Last month, King said his country was not ready to sign the new trade deal that was negotiated on behalf of the Caribbean Community by the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM).

But the well-placed source, who spoke to the Caribbean Media Corporation on condition of anonymity, said that following intensive consultations, including discussions with the CRNM, King was willing to sign the accord.