A recent tweet from Julian Jones Griffith Bounty Killer's manager, confirms that dance hall artist Bounty Killer was refused bail on the grounds that he is facing other charges, one which is assault.

Griffith also stated that "it is very difficult to get bail when you commit a crime while on bail."

The artist whose off stage name is Rodney Price was arrested on Monday (April 5) for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.

Bounty Killer's case will now be called again next week.


Source: www.oneduchessent.com

If you think that you will evade the hands of sexual predators when you die, think again.

Recent investigations by THE STAR has revealed that some male morgue employees in Kingston and Montego Bay are indulging in sexual activities with females, once they are pronounced dead.

As disgusting as the activity might sound, THE WEEKEND STAR was nevertheless able to speak with two morgue operators from Kingston and one from Montego Bay whom all admitted to dealing with at least one such report in the past year, a claim which other morgue employees support.

One Kingston morgue operator informed THE WEEKEND STAR that earlier this year, one attendant had to flee his job after his co-workers allegedly caught him in a very compromising position with a deceased young lady who had arrived at the morgue only minutes before.

TWO FOOT DEM IINA DI AIR

"Wi deh roun a di back a easy and a chat an ting cause a ready wi did ago get ready fi leave..A one a di sistren dem ask weh.......deh? Wi a look fi di man an go inna di dead room go si di yute hice up di lifeless woman two foot dem inna di air and a stroke..Him frighten when him si wi, all him coulda a do a jus run pull up him pants and run off," said an employee.

Other morgue workers as well as residents from the surrounding community explained that the individual from time to time made many suggestive jokes which pointed to him performing the act, but they say they never took him serious as he was a known joker.

"Is a bredda weh always a joke eno, an him use to run whole heap a joke bout a pure sexy dead woman a come inna di place an him ago start look dem," an employee of the morgue explained.

The morgue operator in Montego Bay told THE WEEKEND STAR that in the past year and a half, he has had to deal with three different individuals for various reports of them 'raping the dead.'

"Trust me people who hear stories like this might think it's just made up stuff, but as crazy as it might sounds, it's actually true...When I first heard of it I use to just laugh and tell my workers to stop spreading rumours, but after they beat the first guy after catching him that's when I started to believe," the operator explained to THE WEEKEND STAR.

Head of the Funeral Directors Association of Jamaica, Ferdinand Madden, said that stories of that nature are nothing new to Jamaica, but he claimed that he has never received any such reports from the directors whom he represents.

"Some of these stories are just rumours, while some are true," he admitted.

While these sick acts continue the police say that offenders cannot be charged of a crime for their behaviour. An officer told THE WEEKEND STAR that an offence can only be constituted by an individual who is alive. At such the police are not familiar with any reported cases.

Today In History


Today is Thursday, April 1, the 91st day of 2010. There are 274 days left in the year. This is April Fools' Day.

On April 1, 1960, the first true weather satellite, TIROS-1, was launched from Cape Canaveral. (TIROS stood for "Television Infrared Observation Satellite.")

In 1853, Cincinnati, Ohio, established a fire department made up of paid city employees.

In 1918, the Royal Air Force was established in Britain.

In 1933, Nazi Germany began persecuting Jews with a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses.

In 1939, the United States recognized the government of Gen. Francisco Franco in Spain, the same day Franco went on radio to declare victory in the Spanish Civil War.

In 1945, American forces launched the amphibious invasion of Okinawa during World War II.

In 1946, tidal waves struck the Hawaiian islands, resulting in more than 170 deaths.

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a $1.85 billion emergency housing measure.

In 1963, most of New York City's daily newspapers resumed publishing after settlement was reached in a 114-day strike.

In 1970, President Richard M. Nixon signed a measure banning cigarette advertising on radio and television, to take effect after Jan. 1, 1971.

In 1984, recording star Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father, Marvin Gay (cq) Sr. in Los Angeles, the day before his 45th birthday. (The elder Gay pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and received probation.)

Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton, speaking at a fund-raiser for his wife's Senate campaign, accused New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of enlisting a "right-wing venom machine" against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Michelle Kwan won her third World Figure Skating title.

Five years ago: The Vatican reported that Pope John Paul II was near death, his breathing shallow and his heart and kidneys failing. President Bill Clinton's former national security adviser, Sandy Berger, pleaded guilty to sneaking classified documents out of the National Archives; he was later sentenced to two years' probation.

One year ago: President Barack Obama, in London for an economic crisis summit, sought to rally the world's top and emerging powers to help cope with a global downturn; chanting protesters clashed with riot police in the British capital. Benjamin Netanyahu took office as Israel's prime minister. Sixteen people were killed when a Super Puma helicopter crashed into the North Sea off Scotland's northeast coast. In a college baseball blowout, Eastern Kentucky was leading Kentucky State 49-1 when the teams stopped playing after five innings (they also agreed to cancel the second game of a scheduled double-header).

Today's Birthdays: Actress Jane Powell is 82. Actress Grace Lee Whitney is 80. Actress Debbie Reynolds is 78. Country singer Jim Ed Brown is 76. Actor Don Hastings is 76. Blues singer Eddie King is 72. Actress Ali MacGraw is 72. Rhythm-and-blues singer Rudolph Isley is 71. Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff is 62. Jazz musician Gil Scott-Heron is 61. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is 60. Rock musician Billy Currie (Ultravox) is 60. Actress Annette O'Toole is 58. Movie director Barry Sonnenfeld is 57. Singer Susan Boyle (TV: "Britain's Got Talent") is 49. Country singer Woody Lee is 42. Rapper-actor Method Man is 39. Movie directors Allen and Albert Hughes are 38. Political commentator Rachel Maddow is 37. Tennis player Magdalena Maleeva is 35. Actor David Oyelowo is 34. Singer Bijou Phillips is 30. Actor Sam Huntington is 28. Country singer Hillary Scott (Lady Antebellum) is 26. Actor Josh Zuckerman is 25.

Thought for Today: "Our wisdom comes from our experience, and our experience comes from our foolishness." -- Sacha Guitry, Russian-born French actor-writer-director (1885-1957). (AP)

King of the Dancehall, Beenie Man, without missing a beat, has launched a lyrical attack on the United States Embassy, as he grapples with the reality of the recent revocation of both his US work permit and his visitor's visa. "Dem tek weh mi visa but mi still have mi life," goes the chorus of the song in which Beenie Man mentions that he isn't "frighten fi foreign" and even gives props to Gully God Mavado, by mentioning his name and a line from that deejay's current hit, Starlight. Interestingly, Beenie Man also mentions that he has his girl "in foreign" and states that "all mi haffi do now is divorce mi wife". In the song, which has been receiving power play on one particular radio station, but which has not yet been officially released Beenie ponders the reason why his visa was cancelled and seeks to reassure himself, and his fans, that his visa will soon be returned, as he intends to "pressure" the case. It was reported last week that top dancehall deejays Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Aidonia, along with veteran selector, Ricky Trooper, had their visas revoked by the US Embassy.

WTF??? IS RAPPER SLIM THUG BLOGGING ON GAY WEBSITE???

We're not sure WHAT to make of that pic. We've been following Slim Thug on Twitter for a while, and we've NEVER seen him tweet this photo

Three women who thought they would have the time of their lives in Ocho Rios, St Ann, during the Easter weekend celebrations, are now counting their losses.

The women, who were staying at a hotel in Ocho Rios, told THE STAR that after leaving for a party on Saturday night, they returned to the room to find most of their personal belongings, including cash, missing. To make matters worse, they received no support or reassurance from the hotel's management.

Latoya, one of the women, told THE STAR: "On Saturday evening, we left there about 1 or 2 p.m. to go to j'ouvert and we came back about 8:45 or so. When we came back our things were still there. The hotel was hosting a party that night, so we left the room about after 11 and came back after three or four in the morning."

money missing

She said it was while checking her bag to take a tablet that she realised some of her money was missing. "I had money two places, so when I saw that that was missing, I checked my purse and that money was gone too." After checking their belongings, her friends realised that they too had been robbed. One woman was robbed of J$23,000 and US$20 (J$1,800), another J$10,000 plus jewellery and a cellphone and the other J$5,000 and US$2 (J$180).

Latoya said there were no signs of forced entry into the room, and they believed a key was used to open their door. She said after searching and finally locating the hotel's owners, they were treated as though it was their fault the items were stolen. "The lady started to cuss us out and said to me, unnu neva see the sign on the door." A sign declaring that the hotel was not responsible for lost items was placed on the door of the room.

The women said the hotel's facilities are open to the public and there was no real security system. "There was one likkle security that looked like he couldn't even catch a fly and there were no cameras there," Latoya said.

Efforts to speak with the hotel owners proved futile yesterday as they were not available.

While still coming to grips with their lost valuables, the women are angry at the owners who they believe did not take their plight seriously.

The Constabulary Communication Network confirmed that the Ocho Rios police are investigating the matter and confirmed that a report of items vanishing from a room while its occupants were out, had indeed been made.

Reggae singer Gyptian burst onto the local music scene some five years ago with the hit song Serious Times. Since then he has made quite name for himself on the reggae music scene both locally and abroad having scored several other hits such as Mama Dont Cry, Beautiful Lady and I Can Feel Your Pain.

Gyptian is currently enjoying much success abroad with his single titled Hold Yuh. The two years old Hold Yuh is currently blowing up crossover radio stations in the US such as HOT 97 in New York. The song which was produced by Ricky Blaze is now sitting in the number sixty nine position on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart. It is also number one on Billboards recently launched Digital Genre charts, reggae chart.

A music video was recently shot in support of Hold Yuh in Kingston, under the direction of Rick Elgood. The video is already in rotation locally and has been getting a very positive response.

Although he has not been very visible on the local scene in recent timesGyptian has been very busy performing abroad; he recently earned rave reviews for his performance at an event dubbed "I Am Legend III", which was held last Saturday in the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. This coming weekend he will be doing three shows in the Bahamian islands of Nassau, Freeport and Exuma.

Gyptian is currently working on what will be his third album for VP Records; the album is tentatively titled Hold Yuh and is expected to be released later this summer. It will feature production work from producers such as Kemar Flava McGregor, Ricky Blaze and FX. Gyptian will also be handling some of the production duties for the album.

Two women are under arrest after brawling with a Detroit city bus driver. The duo were reportedly furious after the driver picked up one, but closed the doors before the second boarded. He stopped, but the women were enraged.

bruce help we out nuh......the DJs ask

Dwyane Wade Divorce Deposition: STD Lies

That shocking STD accusation in NBA star Dwyane Wade's divorce is a big nasty lie, according to sworn testimony in legal docs obtained by TMZ.

Siohvaughn Wade has claimed in legal docs the Miami Heat guard gave her chlamydia. But during a deposition, Andrea Williams ... a close friend of the Wades -- claimed Siohvaughn told her she contracted the disease from another man.

Williams testified in her depo, Siohvaughn was seeing another man during her marriage -- and claims she was present in 2007 when Mrs. Wade accused the boyfriend of giving her the STD.

But enough about chlamydia. Williams also claims in her depo that Siohvaughn bought a T-Mobile cell phone for her BF. Dwyane is a T-Mobile spokesperson. Guess who's not making his fave five?

BALLIN AT 12!!! DIDDY THREW HIS SON CHRISTIAN A SUPER SWEET TWELFTH BIRTHDAY PARTY!! (PICS OF CHRISTIAN AND HIS BOYS POPPIN SODA BOTTLES INSIDE)

WHOOPS!!! ANTM'S EVA PIGFORD FORGETS TO WEAR A BRA . . . AND WITH THE HELP OF OUR SEE-THROUGH-TOOL . . . YOU CAN SEE WHAT SHE'S WORKIN WITH!!! (WARNING - PARENTAL DISCRETION)

 POOR LIKKLE JAMAICA MI SWEET SWEEET ISLAND

King of the Dancehall, Beenie Man, without missing a beat, has launched a lyrical attack on the United States Embassy, as he grapples with the reality of the recent revocation of both his US work permit and his visitor's visa.

"Dem tek weh mi visa but mi still have mi life," goes the chorus of the song in which Beenie Man mentions that he isn't "frighten fi foreign" and even gives props to Gully God Mavado, by mentioning his name and a line from that deejay's current hit, Starlight

Interestingly, Beenie Man also mentions that he has his girl "in foreign" and states that "all mi haffi do now is divorce mi wife".

In the song, which has been receiving power play on one particular radio station, but which has not yet been officially released Beenie ponders the reason why his visa was cancelled and seeks to reassure himself, and his fans, that his visa will soon be returned, as he intends to "pressure" the case.

It was reported last week that top dancehall deejays Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Aidonia, along with veteran selector, Ricky Trooper, had their visas revoked by the US Embassy.

KIMORA LEE SIMMONS POSES FOR A NEW BABY PHAT AD . . . ANDHER PEOPLE GO WAY OVERBOARD WITH THE PHOTOSHOPPING!!!

Bounty Killer - File

It's as if having his US visa cancelled last week wasn't bad enough for Bounty Killer.

The controversial entertainer, born Rodney Price, went one better on Sunday night after being arrested and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. He was arrested on warrant following an incident that was reported to have occurred on March 25. Price's girlfriend decided to end their three-year relationship, police said. It is alleged that he responded by refusing to let her go and attacked her. The woman reported the matter to the police, an investigation was launched and a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.

But following his arrest yesterday, Price compounded his problems even further. According to police, the 37-year-old entertainer, also known as the Warlord and founder of the dancehall collective known as Alliance, while being processed, was allowed to make a phone call.

 

controversy and violence

Instead of calling his attorney, Price, in front of policemen at the Constant Spring Police Station, where he is being held in custody, is alleged to have called the girl and threatened her life. He was subsequently denied bail and is scheduled to appear before a judge at the Half-Way Tree Resident Magistrate's Court tomorrow.

Price is no stranger to controversy and violence.

At the age of 14, he was shot by a stray bullet during a gunfight between rival political factions, and while convalescing in hospital decided on the name Bounty Killer.

He was arrested twice at the annual Reggae Sumfest; in a 2001 altercation with another performer and arrested and charged in 2008 with using profanity during his performance.

 

arrested

He was also arrested on February 3, 2009, after allegedly running seven traffic lights in Kingston and charged with refusal to take a breathalyser test and disobeying red lights.

Price was also arrested by police in June 2006 and charged with assaulting the mother of his child. The STARreported at that time that the "complainant was allegedly punched in the face several times, dragged some distance away and her head slammed into a wall".

Bounty Killer was one of five entertainers whose visas were revoked by the United States Embassy last week. No reason was given for the revocation.

A prophetess from Mandeville is now warning that a dangerous tidal wave or earthquake is threatening Jamaica.

Prophetess Lona Copeland-Blake, pastor at the End Time Ministries Church in Mandeville, Manchester, said that disaster for Jamaica is being held back by the Lord, due mainly to the prayers of saints.

She said that the earthquake that took place in Haiti in January could have been avoided if the people of that country were praying.

"Haiti is not a praying nation, so there is no spiritual covering there. Jamaica needs to be on her face before God," warned Copeland-Blake.

The prophetess said that at a time when Jamaica's crime rate is spiralling out of control and a financial crisis seems inevitable, she is urging citizens to put their trust in the Lord.

The pastor also said that if there is no unity in the church, there will not be any in the world so she is calling on the churches in Jamaica to join hands and fight against crime.

Copeland-Blake who lived in the United Kingdom for over 27 years, claimed that prior to Haiti being devastated by a powerful earthquake in January, she had prophesied the heart-rending event.

"A few weeks after launching a crusade, whilst preaching in one of my power-packed anointed meetings, I prophesied to a packed church in Mandeville that The Lord was getting ready to destroy Haiti and that many Jamaicans and other foreign nationals would have been destroyed in the process," said Copeland-Blake.

She noted that when news came about the destruction of the Haitian capital, Port Au Prince, she and the members of her congregation were not surprised, because it occurred only a few months after her prophesy.

http://www.antheamcgibbon.com/dancehall-djs-conflict-set-to-release-3-new-singles.htm

Today In History 


Today is Wednesday, April 7, the 97th day of 2010. There are 268 days left in the year.

On April 7, 1862, Union forces led by General Ulysses S. Grant defeated the Confederates at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee.

In 1199, King Richard I of England (also known as The Lion-Heart) died in the Limousin region of France at age 41 after being mortally wounded by an arrow.

In 1860, Will Keith Kellogg, founder of cereal maker Kellogg Co., was born in Battle Creek, Mich.

In 1927, the image and voice of Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover were transmitted live from Washington to New York in the first successful long-distance demonstration of television.

In 1939, Italy invaded Albania, which was annexed less than a week later.

In 1949, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific" opened on Broadway.

In 1953, the U.N. General Assembly elected Dag Hammarskjold (dahg HAWM'-ahr-shoold) of Sweden to be secretary-general.

In 1969, the Supreme Court, in Stanley v. Georgia, unanimously struck down laws prohibiting private possession of obscene material.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter announced he was deferring development of the neutron bomb, a high-radiation weapon.

In 1983, space shuttle astronauts Story Musgrave and Don Peterson took the first U.S. space walk in almost a decade as they worked in the open cargo bay of Challenger for nearly four hours.

In 1990, a display of Robert Mapplethorpe photographs opened at Cincinnati's Contemporary Arts Center, the same day the center and its director were indicted on obscenity charges (both were acquitted). An arson fire aboard a ferry en route from Norway to Denmark killed 158 people.

Ten years ago: Attorney General Janet Reno met in Washington with the father of Elian Gonzalez; Reno later told reporters that officials would arrange for Juan Miguel Gonzalez to reclaim his son, but she gave Elian's Miami relatives one more chance to drop their resistance and join in a peaceful transfer.

Five years ago: The blockbuster painkiller Bextra was taken off the market, and the FDA said all similar prescription drugs should strongly warn about possible risk of heart attacks and strokes. Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shiite, was named Iraq's interim prime minister; Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani was sworn in as interim president. Historic bus service began between the two parts of Kashmir, one controlled by India, the other by Pakistan.

One year ago: President Barack Obama capped his eight-day European trip by addressing college students in Istanbul, Turkey; he then made an unannounced trip to Baghdad where he visited with U.S. troops and Iraqi officials. Vermont became the fourth state (after Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa) to legalize gay marriage. Three members of the Congressional Black Caucus met with former Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana. Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a Lima court for death squad killings and kidnappings during his struggle against Shining Path insurgents. Connecticut routed Louisville 76-54 to capture its sixth women's basketball title.

Today's Birthdays: Actor R.G. Armstrong is 93. Sitar player Ravi Shankar is 90. Actor James Garner is 82. Country singer Cal Smith is 78. Actor Wayne Rogers is 77. Media commentator Hodding Carter III is 75. Country singer Bobby Bare is 75. Rhythm-and-blues singer Charlie Thomas (The Drifters) is 73. California Attorney General Jerry Brown is 72. Movie director Francis Ford Coppola is 71. TV personality David Frost is 71. Singer Patricia Bennett (The Chiffons) is 63. Singer John Oates is 61. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is 61. Singer Janis Ian is 59. Country musician John Dittrich is 59. Actor Jackie Chan is 56. Football Hall-of-Famer Tony Dorsett is 56. Actor Russell Crowe is 46. Christian/jazz singer Mark Kibble (Take 6) is 46. Actor Bill Bellamy is 45. Rock musician Dave "Yorkie" Palmer (Space) is 45. Former football player-turned-analyst Tiki Barber is 35. Actress Heather Burns is 35. Actor Kevin Alejandro (TV: "Southland") is 34. Actor Conner Rayburn is 11.

Thought for Today: "Lying is done with words and also with silence." -- Adrienne Rich, American poet. (AP)

The son od Daryl Vaz, Information Minister, who is on a drug possession charge appeared in the Corporate Area Criminal Court on Tuesday.

Adam Vaz, 18, pleaded not guilty to the charge as the court was told that the forensic report was still outstanding. The young Mr. Vaz was arrested on March 26 in possession of ganja at the Tinson Pen Aerodrome in St. Catherine. He was preparing to board a flight to Montego Bay, St. James when his luggage was searched and a small quantity of ganja found. He was charged and later released on $10,000 station bail. He is to return to court on May 19.

Concern is being raised that the effects of the worsening drought could have implications for the Government's inflation target this fiscal year. There are fears that among other things, the dry spell will lead to a spike in the prices of agricultural produce as well as a shortage of supplies. Economist Dr. Davidson Daway says this will have an inflationary impact. "Of course there is less production at this point in time. it was the intention of the government to reduce the amount of imported food but as you can tell due to the uncanny situation we have to rely on imports because of course we have to feed the people," Dr. Daway said.   He says this also has implications for the Budget as the Government will have to find funds to assist farmers who have been hit hard by the drought.  Agriculture at risk And farmers in Jamaica's southern farming belt continue to rack up huge losses as the drought takes a major toll on the agricultural sector. Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Mark Panton, says bush fires triggered by the dry conditions have resulted in farmers in sections of St. Elizabeth losing crops valued at more than $20 million. "We have lost about over 30 acres worth $24 million worth of crop production in St. Elizabeth alone, it's a very bad effect coming out of the drought," Dr. Panton said. He says 11 parishes are currently facing moderate to severe drought.

Former Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas and Mayor of St. Ann's Bay Ivan Anderson are gearing up to do battle to represent the People's National Party (PNP) in the constituency of North West St. Ann.

Both men are the candidates for a selection conference which will take place this Sunday at the Brown's Town Community College. This was confirmed on Tuesday night by PNP General Secretary, Peter Bunting. "Yes, we are having a selection conference for Northwest St. Ann. There are two councilors former Commissioner Lucius Thomas and the mayor of St. Ann's Bay Ivan Anderson, we should have a result of this selection conference by late afternoon Sunday," Mr. Bunting said. Our news centre has been informed that the former Police Commissioner and Mr. Anderson are now engaged in intense house-to-house campaigning in the constituency.             Mr. Thomas left the Jamaica Constabulary Force at the end of October 2007 after serving as Commissioner for two years and nine months. Mr. Anderson has been Chairman of the St. Ann Parish Council since December 2007. The successful candidate will replace Michael Whittingham who was the PNP's representative for the constituency. The seat is currently held by the Jamaica Labour Party's Othneil Lawrence.

After being behind bars for 48 hours, popular entertainer Bounty Killer will hear if he will be given bail.

The 38-year old artiste, whose real name is Rodney Price, is to appear in the Corporate Area Criminal Court on Wednesday morning after being arrested at his East Avenue Apartment in St. Andrew on Monday on assault charges.    He is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm stemming from a dispute he had with his girlfriend. Allegations are that on Thursday, March 25 the woman decided to end their three year relationship.  Bounty Killa however refused and reportedly attacked her.  The woman reported the matter to the Constant Spring Police Station, and following investigations a warrant was issued for the deejay's arrest.     It is reported that while the entertainer was being processed at the Constant Spring Station he called the complainant and threatened her life in the presence of the police.  Bounty Killa, who is already facing gun charges, is one of several entertainers whose US visas were recently revoked.

At a time when the reggae music industry is being buffeted by numerous artiste controversies and challenges, internationally known singjay Mr Vegas has earned a major honour in the Central American country of Honduras, where he was presented with the keys to the city of La Ceiba.

 

R&B SINGER CASSIE HAS A NEW JOB . . . WORKING FOR WALMART!!! (PICS INSIDE)

MediaTakeOut.com just got pics for Walmart's new Ad campaign - starring R&B singer Cassie. We've always thought that she made a BETTER model than a SINGER . .. .

REPORT: RIHANNA GETTING MARRIED!!!

We're not sure what to believe . . . but MediaTakeOut.com just got word, from our pals over at the British Tabloid the Daily mail, that Rihanna and her BF Matt Kemp are getting married.

According to the British tabloid, which is one of Britains MOST READ newspapers, Matt is waiting for the right moment to propose, and when he does, Rihanna will say yes. Here's a excerpt from their report:

Rihanna is head over heels in love with Matt. She has told friends shed love to marry him. Shed be so happy if he got down on one knee and popped the question.

That could be interesting . . .

Tax dodgers inclined to flash and fanfare may have to scaleback their spending on luxuries if they expect to continue to evade the tax net.

Government is now able to tie assets and lifestyle to taxes paid, or perhaps more importantly what wasn't.

The Tax Administration Services Department's (TASD's) Forensic Data Mining Intelligence Unit (FDIU), implemented at the beginning of the 2009/10 fiscal year, has been unearthing tax dodgers by cross referencing various databases of individuals and building profiles to assess a person's true income bracket as opposed to what is being reported -- or not being reported at all.

"What we look at are different databases to build a profile and from that we determine whether or not an income reported by an invidual or a company seems factual when you look at a person's net worth or lifestyle," said TASD communications director Meris Haughton.

Millions of dollars have now been recovered over the past year because of a new intelligence unit targeting high risk groups, said Haughton adding that tougher measures would be taken on deliquent taxpayers.

"Where warranted, we will be making criminal charges against delinquent taxpayers, particularly in cases where money is collected and not paid over, example PAYE (pay as you earn) and GCT (general consumption tax)," Haughton said.

However, in a release to the media last week, the TASD reported that 50 "high-profile" persons, among them businessmen and entertainers, were identified as delinquent taxpayers and stop orders were issued preventing them from leaving the island.

The FDIU automatically generates a "failure to file" notice for entities which have not filed their taxes up to the deadline, March 15 this year.

Haughton said such notices have been mailed to over 56,000 delinquents, including 44,786 self employed persons and 11,242 organisations.

The notices allow 14 days within which to respond after which the outstanding payments are subject to 40 per cent interest per annum, calculated daily. Payments which are still outstanding after the notices are served will generate an estimated assessment which, under the Income Tax Act is subject to a 300 per cent penalty. There is also the possibility of court action which includes a fine of $10,000 or one year imprisonment, in addition to the payment of the outstanding sum.

Since this year, 3184 businesses have been brought before the court for tax matters valued at $8.9 billion.

Haughton says consistent with the measures used elsewhere there will be additional measures taken in the 2010-2011 fiscal year to ensure that the taxes are collected.

THE police have arrested five men, including a senior citizen and a Kingston-based businessman for their alleged involvement in several sex crimes committed in the Corporate Area over the past month.

The men were picked up during police operations on the weekend.

"The men were held in separate incidents and are to be questioned over the next few days," Herfa Beckford, head of the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) told the Observer yesterday.

The names of the suspects were being withheld, pending further investigations.

Beckford, however, disclosed that one of the accused is a 58-year-old Kingston resident.

"In that case the accused went to a businessplace in Kingston where he saw the minor and invited her to his house," she said.

She said while at his house he allegedly attempted to sexually assault the young girl.

The victim made a report to the police on Sunday and the man was later arrested.

"He is to be questioned and, if necessary, charges laid against him," Beckford said.

She said that the operations that led to the apprehension of the men was part of CISOCA's ongoing drive to rid the streets of sex offenders.

Jamaica has been placed at the top of a list of no go destinations for gays according to a press release issued by Cheapflights UK, hosted on the website marketwire.com.

Believe it or not, there are still several places in this modern world where being gay is actually illegal and can result in abuse and even arrest in some cases, the release stated.

The list is of no go destinations completed by Fiji, Poland, Nicaragua and Mauritius.

Buggery is against the law in Jamaica and is punishable by a sentence of no more than 10 years at hard labour.

Despite reports from local and international gay groups that gays are persecuted in Jamaica, police blotters indicate that the majority of murders involving gays are the result of lovers quarrels and not homophobic attacks.

The website listed the top five destinations that are welcoming to gays as the US cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, Amsterdam in Holland and Provincetown in Massachusetts.

RAIPUR, India (AFP) -- Maoist rebels ambushed and killed 75 policemen in the jungles of central India yesterday in the worst ever massacre of security forces by the left-wing extremists, officials said.

A patrol from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was attacked at dawn in the state of Chhattisgarh and when reinforcements rushed to the scene they were surrounded by hundreds of heavily armed rebels.

In a hail of automatic gunfire and landmine explosions, 75 officers were killed, seven were injured and a heavily armoured anti-mine vehicle sent to retrieve the wounded was blown up, government officials and police told AFP.

Home Minister P Chidambaram expressed shock at the *lo**bath in the Maoist stronghold of Dantewada district and said the men had "walked into a trap".

"This shows the savage nature of the Maoists -- the brutality and savagery which they are capable of," Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

Home Secretary Gopal Pillai told AFP the death toll was 75 and seven injured. A spokesman for the CRPF said this included 74 paramilitary forces and a local policeman.

The guerrillas have stepped up attacks in response to a government offensive against them that began late last year in the forests of the so-called "Red Corridor" that stretches across north and eastern India.

The insurgency began in the state of West Bengal in 1967 in the name of defending the rights of tribal groups, but attacks have since spread to 20 of India's 28 states.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has labelled the insurgency the biggest internal security threat to India.

Tribal groups and many rural areas have been left behind by the country's economic development, and the poverty and discontent with local government corruption is seen as a major source of Maoist support.

Chidambaram has previously said the government needs to tackle the root causes of the insurgency and he has offered talks with the rebels -- on condition they renounced violence beforehand.

Senior Maoist figures have said they will only talk if the government puts an end to the national offensive, codenamed Operation Green Hunt, that involves 56,000 paramilitary forces in six states in addition to local police.

Prime Minister Singh expressed "shock and grief over the horrific incident", his spokesman said.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner offered the Indian government and its people "France's unreserved support and determination to remain at their sides in the battle against terrorism".

So far, New Delhi has resisted using the military against the insurgents, though the deaths yesterday prompted calls for a larger assault.

LONDON, England (CMC) -- Britain says it has written to five Caribbean governments indicating that while their nationals will continue to enter the country without a visa, the matter is now under review.

The affected countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson, in a statement published on the British government website, said London had written to the five governments "to advise that, while they will maintain their visa-free status for the time being, the decision will be subject to a further review".

Johnson said that in addition to those five countries, London has also written to the Dominica and St Lucia governments, highlighting a number of concerns and giving them a six-month period to deal with them.

Britain said that the review of the Eastern Caribbean countries represents the final stage of the United Kingdom's first global review of visa regimes in relation to the seven countries.

"A visa regime is a very effective immigration, crime and security control measure. As part of our overseas defences, our Visa Waiver Test helps us determine whether our visa regimes are in the right places. Travellers from every country beyond the European Economic Area and Switzerland were measured against a range of criteria, including illegal immigration, crime and security concerns," he said.

The Home Secretary noted the close historic, economic and political ties with Dominica and St Lucia and said London was aware that the introduction of a visa regime would be a significant step.

"It is a decision we do not take lightly," he stressed.

"As a result, we will now enter a six-month period of detailed dialogue with the governments concerned to examine what actions will be taken to address our concerns and mitigate the need for a visa regime to be introduced," Johnson said.

He explained that during that time, Dominica and St Lucia "will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to put into effect credible and realistic plans, with clear timetables, to reduce the risks to the UK, and begin implementing these plans by the end of the dialogue period".

The Home Secretary said that the United Kingdom government remains committed to operating a firm but fair immigration policy.

"It gives a high priority to treating all foreign nationals coming to or present in the UK with dignity and respect, and the highest legal standards. However, it expects all visitors to the UK to play by the rules.

"The UK will always welcome genuine visitors, whether business, tourist, student or family, but will continue to take all steps necessary to protect the security of the UK," he added.

Q) How old are you and is it true that you are with Vybz Kartel?
A)IM 20 YEARS OLD AND YES ITS TRUE.
Q) If so , how long and how is the relationship?
A) FOR AROUND A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, ITS GOING GREAT SO FAR, I KNOW PEOPLE WILL THINK IM FOOLISH TO BE INVOLVED WITH HIM BUT YOU CANT HELP WHO YOU FALL FOR!

Q) There was an incident with his baby mother, Shorty, what happened there and what contributed to that?
A) YEP..THERE WAS AN ALTERCATION BETWEEN MS BLEACH KIN AN I..TO BE HONEST IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY, SHE STARTED SHOUTING AFTER ME WHEN I WAS PASSING IN MY CAR WITH SOME FRIENDS IT WAS A FEW DAY AFTER SHE FIND OUT ABOUT ME AN ADI, SO I STOP AND SAY UNLESS YOU GONNA SAY IT TO MY FACE DONT SAY IT AT ALL AND TRUE SHE HAVE SOME DUTTY RANK FRIEND A EVA FOLLOW BACK OF HER SHE GET BRAVE AND WALK UP TO ME LIKE SHE GONNA SPIT PON MI SO I DRAPE HER BY HER $500 STAIN UP MARINA AND GIVE HER A FEW CRACK ROUND DI HEAD UNTIL SOME BOBO DREAD WITH BODY ODOUR RUN IN AND SPLIT DI FIGHT UP!

Q) How do you feel putting the relationship between you and Kartel out there?
A) TO BE HONEST I NEVER ACTIVELY PUT IT OUT THERE ITS JUST PEOPLE SPREADING RUMOUR AND A FEW FRENEMY PUTTING THE WORD OUT THERE, ALTHOUGH IT DOESNT BOTHER ME, IM NOT ASHAMED 2 BE WITH HIM.

Q) Is it true that you have performed oral sex on him, if so why?
A) YEAH THATS TRUE..I HAVE GIVE HIM HEAD LIKE 6 TIMES ALWAYS WITH A CONDOM THOUGH, I FIND JUST PENETRATIVE SEX CAN GET BORING SO I WANT TO PLEASE MY MAN.

Q)How do you feel about Kartel as an artist and as a person?
A) HES A NICE PERSON, VERY CARING AND LOVING..TOWARDS ME HE IS ANYWAY...I RESPECT HIM AS AN ARTIST TOO..HE MAKES GOOD MUSIC

Q) Star are you in school, if so what is your area of study?
A)YES IM IN SCHOOL, IM HOPING TO BECOME A PHARMACIST

Q)There is a lot of talk about girls getting std's from entertainers, are you having protected sex?
A)STD'S ARE A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC NOT JUST FROM ARTISTS ALTHOUGH THEY CAN BE PROMISCUOUS..ALOT OF AVERAGE MEN HAVE STDS TOO..ITS JUST WE HEAR ABOUT IT WHEN ENTERTAINERS HAVE IT, ALSO PEOPLE WHO SLEEP WITH ANYBODY, UNLESS THEY KNOW THEY ARE 100% MONOGAMOUS, WITHOUT CONDOMS ARE FOOLS..STRAIGHT

Q)It was also said that Kartel wanted you to have a baby for him, do you want a child by him and if so why?
A)YEAH HE DID SAY THAT BUT RIGHT NOW IM FOCUSED ON MY STUDIES AND IM WAY TO YOUNG FOR A CHILD, I WOULDNT RULE IT OUT THOUGH IF WE ARE STILL TOGETHER IN A FEW YEARS AND IM SETTLED THEN THAT WOULD BE LOVELY..


Q)How does your family and friends feel about you being with an entertainer?
A)ALOT OF MY FRIENDS SAY IM DUMB AND STUPID AND TELL ME TO LEAVE HIM SOME OF MY FAMILY DO ALSO, MY FATHER SAYS THE SAME THING BUT KNOWS THAT IM HAPPY AND OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS AND YOUNG ENOUGH TO MAKE MISTAKES..AFTER ALL THATS HOW WE LEARN..THANKS FOR DOING THIS AS I WANTED TO CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP.

http://forum.dancehallreggae.com/showthread.php?p=3395987#post3395987

LOOKS MORE LIKE LUUU TO MI


-- Edited by gamepun on Friday 16th of October 2009 12:26:19 PM

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP) -- The US administration yesterday unveiled new guidelines for the nation's nuclear arsenal, saying it would not attack non-nuclear states with atomic arms which would only be used "in extreme circumstances".

In a shift of policy, the United States said for the first time that states without atomic weapons which complied with non-proliferation treaty obligations need not fear a US nuclear attack.

But President Barack Obama warned exceptions could be made for "outliers" Iran and North Korea, both of which are suspected of trying to acquire a nuclear bomb.

"Indeed, the United States wishes to stress that it would only consider the use of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances to defend the vital interests of the United States or its allies and partners," the administration said in a policy document.

The Nuclear Posture Review released yesterday also describes "nuclear terrorism" as an immediate and extreme threat, with efforts to prevent the spread of atomic weapons and material a top priority.

The policy rules out building new nuclear weapons, but does call for setting aside billions of dollars to "modernise" existing US weaponry.

Washington has never renounced the "first use" of nuclear weapons, and Obama's policy stops short of calls by arms control activists to explicitly limit their role to deterrence of other nuclear-armed states or terrorist organisations.

In an interview with The New York Times, Obama said his approach seeks to eliminate Cold War ambiguities about when such weapons could be used.

Obama's new take on nuclear policy comes two days before he signs a treaty with Russia to slash stockpiles of long-range nuclear warheads by a third, and less than a week before he hosts world leaders at a key nuclear summit in Washington.

A senior administration official told AFP the upcoming signing of the new START treaty with Russia, the summit, and the Nuclear Posture Review will see the administration "embracing a 21st century approach to nuclear weapons".

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the new START treaty "reflects a new level of trust between Moscow and Washington", but he warned Russia could withdraw unilaterally if Washington moves to far on missile defence.

In order to pursue a key foreign policy aim of halting nuclear proliferation, Obama has committed the United States -- the only country ever to unleash an wartime atomic bomb -- to a series of nuclear arms cuts.

"Now, the Nuclear Posture Review states very clearly, if you are a non-nuclear weapons state that is compliant with the NPT, you have a negative assurance we will not be using nuclear weapons against you," he told The Times.

"That doesn't mean that you might not engage in some actions that are profoundly detrimental to US national security, which require action on our part," Obama said.

"And I'm going to preserve all the tools that are necessary in order to make sure that the American people are safe and secure."

havent heard from him in a while...weh him deh pon him did kinda dominate dancehall in his era...

Here's what happened. Last night, T-Pain and a few friends stopped by XTC for some drinks and a fun night out. When they first sat down, the group ordered a couple of bottles and were enjoying the night. But at one point, they stopped ordering liquor - and tried to stay in the special VIP area. Then, according to a MediaTakeOut.com snitch, a member of management approached T-Pain and asked that they buy another bottle - or move to the general area of the club. That's when things WENT LEFT!!! Our snitch claims that T-Pain started talking REAL RECKLESS towards one of the managers. He even ALLEGEDLY used some derogatory racial terms towards dude, who was Mexican. Well that was about all he needed to hear. Next thing you know somebody started BEATING on T-Pain. The insider told MediaTakeout.com, "It wasn't really a fight [a Mexican guy] just punched T-Pain in the face a few times, and T-Pain ran out the club. Ouch . . . can't wait to see if T-Pain is swole up . . .

BROTHERS Roger and Romeo Folkes were yesterday ordered extradited to the United States where they are to face trial on drug-trafficking charges. The order was made by Magistrate Stephanie Jackson-Haisley in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court where the men, who both live in Kingston, had been fighting the request for their extradition since being arrested last year June. In arriving at her decision, Jackson-Haisley said she was satisfied that a prima facie case had been made out against the brothers. But following the ruling, attorney Tom Tavares-Finson, while not knocking the magistrate, called for a review of certain aspects of the Extradition Treaty which, he said, has done "grave injustice to Jamaicans". "The magistrate acted within the terms of her limited jurisdiction. This situation demonstrates the need for us to review the present Extradition Treaty as it stands," said Tavares-Finson, who appeared for the brothers and who also represents Tivoli Gardens businessman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke the subject of another contentious extradition request. "What I had requested during the hearing most people would regard as very, very basic rights that is to say, the right to know who your accuser is and to know the terms upon which they have entered into arrangement to give evidence against you." Added the attorney: "A grave injustice is being done to Jamaicans." Tavares-Finson, said he will be taking the fight against the extradition order to the Supreme Court. The brothers have 15 days within which to file papers with the High Court in their bid for freedom. Should the High Court uphold the magistrate's decision, the men have the option of going to the Court of Appeal and can also take the matter to the London-based Privy Council, the island's highest court of appeal, on a Constitutional point. The order to have the brothers extradited is sure to add fuel to the current public debate over the apparent procrastination on the part of Prime Minister Bruce Golding to set the ball rolling on last August's request by the US for the extradition of Coke, a resident of Tivoli Gardens and staunch supporter of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party. The issue has soured relations between Washington and Kingston. Last week, Golding, during his call-in radio programme Jamaica House Live, said he would be seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court as to whether or not Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne acted correctly in not giving the go-ahead for extradition proceedings to be brought against Coke, who is wanted in the US on drug- and gun-running charges. The Jamaican Government has argued that the evidence submitted by the Americans against Coke was gathered in breach of Jamaican law. The allegation against the Folkes brothers is that between July 2006 and September 2008 they were members of a transnational smuggling network, which shipped illicit drugs into the US and Great Britain from Jamaica and St Lucia. US prosecutors have described the Folkes as major players in the international drug trade. Yesterday, Tavares-Finson said the men's challenge against the extradition request has been hampered as the brothers, one a businessman and the other a student, have no idea who made the allegations of drug-running against them and why. As a result, Tavares-Finson said, the brothers are unable to give proper instructions. "How is that for a joke?" Tavares-Finson quipped.

jah knw dis serious it tek a regular Jamaican fi show we these things. is a while now mi hear jamaica have a serious water shortage n it nuh seem like nuttin is bein dun abt it

NUH UHHHHHHHH!!! THIS IS VERY RECKLESS PARENTING . . . BUT DON'T EXPECT US TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!

Sprint sensation Usain Bolt has been given the green light to commence repairs to the Sherwood Content Health Centre in his Trelawny hometown, as the star makes another effort to give back to his community.

A memorandum of understanding was signed last Wednesday between the National People's Co-operative Bank (NPCB) and the Ministry of Health, under which the health centre property owned by the NPCB, is to be leased for 10 years to the health ministry.

The Olympic and World Champion was ill and unable to attend the signing ceremony at the Development Bank of Jamaica in Kingston, but his manager Norman Peart, said the initiative was a critical step in improving health care in Sherwood Content.

"This project will begin in April and we will be attacking the roof right away because that is a community that has a lot of rainfall and the roof is badly damaged," Peart said.

"It (project) will continue into next year but we want to deal with the most pressing repairs. At the end we want to upgrade to having a dental chair, which I think will be a big boost to the clinic," he continued, citing the high cost of some very basic medical procedures.

Peart displayed images of the clinic, showing the deplorable conditions under which it served more than 1,000 residents annually. The overall cost of the repairs is estimated at $3 million dollars but Peart said he expected the amount to increase.

Approximately $1.5 million was raised in December from a party commemorating Bolt's astounding 9.58 seconds record in the 100 metres at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany. All proceeds of that event went directly towards the venture, Peart said.

KENAN FROM SNL IS DATING A BECKY . . . HE'S PAYING HER BILLS . . . AND AIN'T GETTING NONE!!!MediaTakeOut.com just learned, from our pals over at the website TheDirty.com, that Kenan (you know, the dude who used to play on Nickelodeons Kenan And Kel) is spending all his money on some girl. And that he's not even getting any in return for his paper.

Here's what they're saying over there:

[Krissy] claims she's a model. As you can tell boobs nose lips and *ss have been done. All she talks about on twitter and myspace is how she's traveling the world, posts pics from different hotel rooms all the time and she's always "alone." Walks around with $5000 cash at all times, loves purple crayon.

The latest is she's dating/living with Keenan from SNL - he pays her bills and everything but they haven't had sex cause she told him she's a virgin and is saving herself for marriage.

Keenan . . . what are you doing MAYNE!!!!

It does make sense though. He looks the type to TRICK OFF all his Saturday Night Live money on some MILEY CYRUS looking chick . . . 

WTF??? IN CHICAGO . . . 40 PEOPLE WERE SHOT . . . IN JUST 50 HOURS!!

Chicago is now unofficially the most DANGEROUS place in the country. Why, you ask? Well MediaTakeOut.com just received a report that in just 50 hours, 40 people were shot in Chicago.

And get this - 5 of those people shot, were shot right in FRONT OF POLICE!!! That's right y'all, the GOONS in Chicago are so brazen, that they opened fire on rival gangmembers right in FRONT OF 30 POLICE OFFICERS!!! No one was arrested in that incident.

Don't believe us, well check out the FULL REPORT in the below video:


http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7365649

Five charged in gang rape of girl, 7

TRENTON -- Two adults and three juveniles were charged yesterday with the gang rape of a 7-year-old girl that took place inside the Rowan Towers high-rise one week ago, police said.

Among those arrested and charged are two boys, ages 13 and 14, both younger than the 15-year-old stepsister who allegedly sold the child to the group after accepting money for sexual favors herself, police said.

Gregory Leary, 20, who was charged Wednesday with the statutory rape of the 15-year-old, now stands accused of raping her stepsister as well.

"I also want to say this: We're not finished," Mayor Douglas Palmer said at a news conference outside police headquarters. "Because everyone who's responsible has not been arrested."

"This is a good day, but we want better days," he added.

Newly charged is 19-year-old Tiemear Lewis and a 17-year-old male. The juveniles' names are being withheld because they are underage, but at least "some of them" will be charged as adults, Mercer County Prosecutor Joe Bocchini said.

Lewis and two of the juveniles live in Rowan Towers, police said, and often spent time with Leary and the third teen. Police could not yet say whose idea the gang rape was, or if the group had any sort of hierarchy.

"We're still looking into how these individuals associate with each other," Capt. Joseph Juniak said.

But law enforcement sources said the gang rape was not planned. Once the 7-year-old was given money by her stepsister and told to let the boys touch her, what started as one sex act quickly escalated to increasing levels of depravity, the sources said.

The group may be associated with a gang, police said, but the crimes against the girls were not any kind of gang initiation.

-- Edited by *~*~Sweet Applezz*~*~ on Sunday 4th of April 2010 12:38:59 PM

Maya Angelou Biography Poet and Historian Maya Angelou Date of birth: April 4, 1928

Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents divorced when she was only three and she was sent with her younger brother Bailey to live with their grandmother in the small town of Stamps, Arkansas. In Stamps, the young girl experienced the racial discrimination that was the legally enforced way of life in the American South, but she also absorbed the deep religious faith and old-fashioned courtesy of traditional African American life. She credits her grandmother and her extended family with instilling in her the values that informed her later life and career. She enjoyed a close relationship with her younger brother. Unable to pronounce her name because of a stutter, Bailey called her "My" for "My sister." A few years later, when he read a book about the Maya Indians, he began to call her "Maya," and the name stuck.

At age seven, while visiting her mother in Chicago, she was sexually molested by her mother's boyfriend. Too ashamed to tell any of the adults in her life, she confided in her brother. When she later heard the news that an uncle had killed her attacker, she felt that her words had killed the man. She fell silent and did not speak for five years.

Maya began to speak again at 13, when she and her brother rejoined their mother in San Francisco. Maya attended Mission High School and won a scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco's Labor School, where she was exposed to the progressive ideals that animated her later political activism. She dropped out of school in her teens to become San Francisco's first African American female cable car conductor. She later returned to high school, but became pregnant in her senior year and graduated a few weeks before giving birth to her son, Guy. She left home at 16 and took on the difficult life of a single mother, supporting herself and her son by working as a waitress and cook, but she had not given up on her talents for music, dance, performance and poetry.

In 1952, she married a Greek sailor named Anastasios Angelopulos. When she began her career as a nightclub singer, she took the professional name Maya Angelou, combining her childhood nickname with a form of her husband's name. Although the marriage did not last, her performing career flourished. She toured Europe with a production of the opera Porgy and BessCalypso Lady (1957). in 1954 and 1955. She studied modern dance with Martha Graham, danced with Alvin Ailey on television variety shows and recorded her first record album,

She had composed song lyrics and poems for many years, and by the end of the 1950s was increasingly interested in developing her skills as a writer. She moved to New York, where she joined the Harlem Writers Guild and took her place among the growing number of young black writers and artists associated with the Civil Rights Movement. She acted in the historic Off-Broadway production of Jean Genet's The Blacks and wrote and performed a Cabaret for Freedom with the actor and comedian Godfrey Cambridge.

In New York, she fell in love with the South African civil rights activist Vusumzi Make and in 1960, the couple moved, with Angelou's son, to Cairo, Egypt. In Cairo, Angelou served as editor of the English language weekly The Arab Observer. Angelou and Guy later moved to Ghana, where she joined a thriving group of African American expatriates. She served as an instructor and assistant administrator at the University of Ghana's School of Music and Drama, worked as feature editor for The African Review and wrote for The Ghanaian Times and the Ghanaian Broadcasting Company.

During her years abroad, she read and studied voraciously, mastering French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and the West African language Fanti. She met with the American dissident leader Malcolm X in his visits to Ghana, and corresponded with him as his thinking evolved from the racially polarized thinking of his youth to the more inclusive vision of his maturity.

Maya Angelou returned to America in 1964, with the intention of helping Malcolm X build his new Organization of African American Unity. Shortly after her arrival in the United States, Malcolm X was assassinated, and his plans for a new organization died with him. Angelou involved herself in television production and remained active in the Civil Rights Movement, working more closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who requested that Angelou serve as Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His assassination, falling on her birthday in 1968, left her devastated. With the guidance of her friend, the novelist James Baldwin, she found solace in writing, and began work on the book that would become I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The book tells the story of her life from her childhood in Arkansas to the birth of her child. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was published in 1970 to widespread critical acclaim and enormous popular success.

Seemingly overnight, Angelou became a national figure. In the following years, books of her verse and the subsequent volumes of her autobiographical narrative won her a huge international audience. She was increasingly in demand as a teacher and lecturer and continued to explore dramatic forms as well. She wrote the screenplay and composed the score for the film Georgia, Georgia (1972). Her screenplay, the first by an African American woman ever to be filmed, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Angelou has been invited by successive Presidents of the United States to serve in various capacities. President Ford appointed her to the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and President Carter invited her to serve on the Presidential Commission for the International Year of the Woman. President Clinton requested that she compose a poem to read at his inauguration in 1993. Angelou's reading of her poem "On the Pulse of the Morning" was broadcast live around the world.

Since 1981, Angelou has served as Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has continued to appear on television and in films including Poetic Justice (1993) and the landmark television adaptation of Roots (1977). She has directed numerous dramatic and documentary programs on television and directed her first feature film, Down in the Delta, in 1996.

The list of her published works now includes more than 30 titles. These include numerous volumes of verse, beginning with Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die (1971). Books of her stories and essays include Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now (1993) and Even the Stars Look Lonesome (1997). She has continued the compelling narrative of her life in the books Gather Together in My Name (1974), Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas (1976), The Heart of a WomanAll God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1987) and A Song Flung Up to Heaven (1981), (2002).

In 1991, 1994 and 1997, Maya Angelou participated in a series of live broadcasts for Achievement Television in which she took questions submitted by students from across the United States. The interview with Maya Angelou on this web site has been condensed from these broadcasts.