For the Caribbean governments, particularly those in the sub-regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the events unfolding in Libya are more than just an attempt to remove an African leader from power.

For the nine-member OECS grouping who have adopted their own lines of engagement with Libya, much to the concern of some opposition parties, their main concern is—what will become of Libyan investment projects in region?

"Whether we like it or not, we're still very much dependent on oil from the Middle East and most of our economies are driven by that," said Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda.

In the midst of the unrest in Libya, leaders in the region have found themselves caught between the proverbial 'rock and a hard place'.

Many of St Vincent and the Grenadines' major development projects in recent years have benefited from Libyan funding. The opposition in St Vincent and the Grenadines has criticised Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves' government for accepting what opposition leader Arnhim Eustace describes as "blood money".

Gonsalves defends his government's receipt of the aid. According to the Prime Minister, the US$250,000 handed over to the Housing and Land Development Corporation (HLDC) by Libya's ambassador to the OECS, Ammat Ali, in February is to aid with rebuilding the country after the damage wrought by Hurricane Tomas last year.

"You know, that is blood money!" declared Eustace during a rally held to whip up support for a protest march against two controversial bills that were being taken to parliament. "I want Ralph to tell the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines… what is his position now about (Libyan leader Moammar) Gadaffi," said Eustace.

In nearby Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit reiterated his government's position that Dominica will not break ties with Libya because of the ongoing political turmoil.

"Why should we terminate relations with Libya?" said Skerrit, who also questioned the opposition's call for him to simply review his existing relationship with Tripoli.

The same stance has been taken by Prime Minister Stephenson King of St Lucia, who said while his government is monitoring developments in Libya, they were not severing diplomatic relations.