(CNN) -- The massive earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday may have shifted the Earth's axis and created shorter days, scientists at NASA say.

The change is negligible, but permanent: Each day should be 1.26 microseconds shorter, according to preliminary calculations. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second.

A large quake shifts massive amounts of rock and alters the distribution of mass on the planet.

When that distribution changes, it changes the rate at which the planet rotates. And the rotation rate determines the length of a day.

"Any worldly event that involves the movement of mass affects the Earth's rotation," Benjamin Fong Chao, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said while explaining the phenomenon in 2005.

 

Scientists use the analogy of a skater. When he pulls in his arms, he spins faster.

That's because pulling in his arms changes the distribution of the skater's mass and therefore the speed of his rotation.

Richard Gross, a geophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, used a computer model to determine how the magnitude 8.8 quake that struck Chile on February 27 may have affected the Earth.

See scenes of devastation from the quake

He determined that the quake should have moved the Earth's figure axis about 3 inches (8 centimeters). The figure axis is one around which the Earth's mass is balanced. That shift in axis is what may have shortened days.

Such changes aren't unheard of.

The magnitude 9.1 earthquake in 2004 that generated a killer tsunami in the Indian Ocean shortened the length of days by 6.8 microseconds.

On the other hand, the length of a day also can increase. For example, if the Three Gorges reservoir in China were filled, it would hold 10 trillion gallons (40 cubic kilometers) of water. The shift of mass would lengthen days by 0.06 microsecond, scientists said.

North Carolina police arrested an assistant high school principal after they say he had sexual relations with two of his students, often on school grounds.

Police say that Aaronson Franks had sexual relationships with two Central Carrabus high school students---one under the age of 16, in the past two years.

Court documents allege that Franks would conduct sexual practices with the girls on school property, leading them to a secluded building where only he had access.

Police were notified of his behavior after one of the girls confessed to her mother.

Franks is being charged one count of statutory rape, two counts of statutory sexual offense, three counts of sexual activity with student by administrator, one count of taking indecent liberties with a student, and four counts of indecent liberties with children.


DAMN SHAME!

Deejay Face performing at Magnum Follow Di Arrow. - Nathaniel Stewart

Separate from the brilliant displays by deejays Assassin and Bounty Killer at Magnum's Follow Di Arrow, on Saturday at James Bond Beach, St Mary, there were several other artistes who delivered performancesworthy of mention.

The stage was set for a spectacle, as the event celebrated 11 years of existence. The line-up, which included some of the 'hottest' names in dancehall music, proved that promoter Dexton Ennis went to the extreme to make his event a stellar one.

Mr Vegas stepped out with a mission, and his surprise inclusion of the Jamaican Michael Jackson and a well-executed Gospel medley to his set, an energetic Vegas ended up playing a major role in the event's entertainment package.

Before Vegas, the crowd was entertained reasonably well with performances from Louie Culture, Nitty Kutchie and General B, but it wasn't until Vegas' impressive set that the crowd began beaming with excitement.

He intrigued the females with songs like Fight Over Man and Man A Gallis, before engaging in friendly battle with former Rising Star Natel, both aiming to impress Magnum Girl Borecia. the crowd accepted it graciously.

 

hilarious facts

Flossing king Flippa Mafia only settled for champagne popping, but his set was well received as he performedUnfinished House, Dem Yah and ClothesHaffi Repeat.

When emcee Ragashanti announced the return of Madd Anju, many in the crowd began to question aloud, where he had been. "Him did still deh bout?" said one patron. "A who him again?" another asked.

Madd Anju didn't disappoint, however, as his performance was met with laughter after he sighted some hilarious facts about the sport of cricket. "Mek mi tell yu bout cricket, how yuh fi a fling ball and man a lick it. It nuh luk gud pon paper, when dem seh cricket mi say lata."

On the night, Follow Di Arrow witnessed two outstanding performances from Assassin and Bounty Killer. However, the latter and his musical protégé Mavado, who set aside his gangsta persona while doing Come Into My Room with Stacious, shared in a thrilling 20-minute performance which sent shock waves across the venue.

Mavado was in his prime, reeling off hits like Money Nuff, War Is In Di Air and Starlight, which had the crowd in a frenzy. Bounty Killer was again in the spotlight, as the 'Gully Gad' used the opportunity to acknowledge his legacy.

"Killa, yuh a mi general and nuh man can change dat. A yu mek everything happen," said Mavado. The 'Warlord', during his performance, called on Tyrical to perform his single Want My Own on the Survival Mode rhythm.

Youngster Dada got a deafening response when he deejayed, "Di bees pitch pon Mavado and sting me after," before announcing his loyalty with his new single A-L-L-I-A-N-C-E.

The female segment was tipped as the most-exciting segment, but only Stacious and Face came out firing. The likes of Macka Diamond, Queen Paula, Ikaya and Tiki failed in their pursuit.

Lisa Hyper perhaps went a little too far as she launched a stunning lyrical rampage on veteran Bounty Killer in front of an adherent crowd. She, however, narrowly escaped several missiles thrown at her.

The performance by Twin of Twins was quite hilarious, as they made an immediate impact when they entered the stage with their own microphones, as they were reluctant to take the one previously used by Lisa Hyper.

KipRich came prepared for War but his proposed opponent Merciless thought otherwise. KipRich left as an upset individual, while Merciless suffered countless boos during his ill-fated performance.

Despite being the closing act and currently one of dancehall's most-sought-after deejays, Vybz Kartel never really made a strong impact. The Dollar Sign lyricist started out well, but the crowd seemed already satisfied and began exiting the venue 10 minutes into his performance.

Consumers will now have to monitor their electricity usage even more since as of this month the 10 per cent General Consumption Tax (GCT) will be reflected in their bills.

The new GCT was first announced in the Government's initial jaw dropping tax package, which was announced in December 2009. The duty on electricity was first set at 17.5 per cent before being lowered to 10 per cent following complaints from the public.

 

power usage

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), the island's supplier of electricity, is encouraging consumers to conserve on power usage, bearing in mind the tax.

Corporate Communications Manager at the JPS, Winsome Callum, said that the tax applies to electricity usage that exceeds 200 kilowatt hours for residential customers. Business customers, however, will be taxed for total usage.

The light and power company said that several entities such as government ministries and departments, hospitals, and schools will be exempt from the new tax measure.

Callum also noted that the company plans to intensify efforts to prevent electricity theft.

A man accused of setting the house of his child's mother ablaze, while both she and her new babyfather were inside on Valentine's Day, is now in trouble with the law.

Andrew Fletcher, 26, of Patrick Street, Old Harbour, St Catherine, is charged with attempted murder and arson.

The allegations are that on Valentine's Day he went to the home of his child's mother in Havendale, St Andrew. It is alleged that while there, Fletcher saw another man inside the house and became enraged. The court was told that this other man was the complainant's other babyfather.

It is alleged that in his rage, Fletcher went to his car and returned with a jug of gasolene, which he used to douse the door of the complainant's home before setting it ablaze, with both persons still inside.

The fire was put out by the other man, who rushed to get water and extinguished the blaze.

Fletcher is to return to court on March 5 when the matter will again be mentioned.

A man accused of setting the house of his child's mother ablaze, while both she and her new babyfather were inside on Valentine's Day, is now in trouble with the law.

Andrew Fletcher, 26, of Patrick Street, Old Harbour, St Catherine, is charged with attempted murder and arson.

The allegations are that on Valentine's Day he went to the home of his child's mother in Havendale, St Andrew. It is alleged that while there, Fletcher saw another man inside the house and became enraged. The court was told that this other man was the complainant's other babyfather.

It is alleged that in his rage, Fletcher went to his car and returned with a jug of gasolene, which he used to douse the door of the complainant's home before setting it ablaze, with both persons still inside.

The fire was put out by the other man, who rushed to get water and extinguished the blaze.

Fletcher is to return to court on March 5 when the matter will again be mentioned.

FANCY CAT

Fancy Cat, who partners with Ity to form a popular comedic duo, has very little to laugh about these days, as he is mourning the sudden and shocking death of his father, Clifton Hardware.

Hardware, 72, died about 3:30 p.m. last Wednesday, after jumping from a balcony at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Reports are that Hardware, who had been admitted in hospital for about a week, walked on to the balcony and jumped off, despite efforts by a female nurse to restrain him.

Fancy Cat, whose real name is Alton Hardware, was informed of his father's passing last week while he was in England visiting relatives.

The comedian, who arrived in Jamaica on Monday night, told THE STAR that he was trying to cope with the death and was doing so with the help of family members. He said, "Family is around, so I have support. We just cry on each other's shoulders. We have a really big family."

The comedian said he grew up with his father and they had a "close enough" bond. He said he visited his father before he left the island and told him that he would soon return. At that time, his father had not yet been hospitalised. "Mi go check him before mi leave, cause mi know him did a go through some pressure."

About two weeks into his trip, he learnt that his father had been admitted to hospital because he was having trouble breathing. He said his father had done heart surgery in the past, so when the family got the news that he had passed, they assumed that his heart had finally given out.

"It was shocking," the comedian said about the news, "everybody couldn't believe. Wi neva prepare fi dis." He said before he got the news he was encouraging a sibling to come to Jamaica to visit their father as he was ill.

Fancy Cat said because he had just arrived in the island he had not been able to get much information about the days or hours leading up to his father's death. He, however, said he had been told that his father was "seeing things" and had been imagining that people were out to kill him.

Though facing turbulent times at home, Fancy Cat said he would continue working as this would give him an escape. He said he is to perform in New York soon. "Being onstage is my happiest time," he said. "It allows me to just block out the world."

The comedian lost his mother in 1998.

A man was shot and killed at 'Big Yard' off Manning's Hill Road in St Andrew last night.

Up to the press time the man, who was employed at a tyre shop in the community, was not identified.

The Constant Spring police who were on the scene, reported that shortly after 11 p.m., the man was approached by an armed man who had just exited a vehicle.

The gunman opened fire on the man before leaving in the waiting motor car.

Residents reportedly told the police that they noticed the vehicle in the community earlier in the day at the tyre shop.

Separate from the brilliant displays by deejays Assassin and Bounty Killer at Magnum's Follow Di Arrow, on Saturday at James Bond Beach, St Mary, there were several other artistes who delivered performances worthy of mention.

The stage was set for a spectacle, as the event celebrated 11 years of existence. The line-up, which included some of the 'hottest' names in dancehall music, proved that promoter Dexton Ennis went to the extreme to make his event a stellar one.

Mr Vegas stepped out with a mission, and his surprise inclusion of the Jamaican Michael Jackson and a well-executed Gospel medley to his set, an energetic Vegas ended up playing a major role in the event's entertainment package.

Before Vegas, the crowd was entertained reasonably well with performances from Louie Culture, Nitty Kutchie and General B, but it wasn't until Vegas' impressive set that the crowd began beaming with excitement.

He intrigued the females with songs like Fight Over Man and Man A Gallis, before engaging in friendly battle with former Rising Star Natel, both aiming to impress Magnum Girl Borecia. the crowd accepted it graciously.

hilarious facts

Flossing king Flippa Mafia only settled for champagne popping, but his set was well received as he performed Unfinished House, Dem Yah and ClothesHaffi Repeat.

When emcee Ragashanti announced the return of Madd Anju, many in the crowd began to question aloud, where he had been. "Him did still deh bout?" said one patron. "A who him again?" another asked.

Madd Anju didn't disappoint, however, as his performance was met with laughter after he sighted some hilarious facts about the sport of cricket. "Mek mi tell yu bout cricket, how yuh fi a fling ball and man a lick it. It nuh luk gud pon paper, when dem seh cricket mi say lata."

On the night, Follow Di Arrow witnessed two outstanding performances from Assassin and Bounty Killer. However, the latter and his musical protégé Mavado, who set aside his gangsta persona while doing Come Into My Room with Stacious, shared in a thrilling 20-minute performance which sent shock waves across the venue.

Mavado was in his prime, reeling off hits like Money Nuff, War Is In Di Air and Starlight, which had the crowd in a frenzy. Bounty Killer was again in the spotlight, as the 'Gully Gad' used the opportunity to acknowledge his legacy.

"Killa, yuh a mi general and nuh man can change dat. A yu mek everything happen," said Mavado. The 'Warlord', during his performance, called on Tyrical to perform his single Want My Own on the Survival Mode rhythm.

Youngster Dada got a deafening response when he deejayed, "Di bees pitch pon Mavado and sting me after," before announcing his loyalty with his new single A-L-L-I-A-N-C-E.

The female segment was tipped as the most-exciting segment, but only Stacious and Face came out firing. The likes of Macka Diamond, Queen Paula, Ikaya and Tiki failed in their pursuit.

Lisa Hyper perhaps went a little too far as she launched a stunning lyrical rampage on veteran Bounty Killer in front of an adherent crowd. She, however, narrowly escaped several missiles thrown at her.

The performance by Twin of Twins was quite hilarious, as they made an immediate impact when they entered the stage with their own microphones, as they were reluctant to take the one previously used by Lisa Hyper.

KipRich came prepared for War but his proposed opponent Merciless thought otherwise. KipRich left as an upset individual, while Merciless suffered countless boos during his ill-fated performance.

Despite being the closing act and currently one of dancehall's most-sought-after deejays, Vybz Kartel never really made a strong impact. The Dollar Sign lyricist started out well, but the crowd seemed already satisfied and began exiting the venue 10 minutes into his performance.

PROMINENT United States-based attorney, Professor David Rowe, says he has very little hope that reggae star Buju Banton's entrapment plea will hold up in a US court.

Rowe said the US revelation that the prosecution has video recordings of Baton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, tasting cocaine and participating in arrangements for the sale of contraband, will work against him in a big way.

"I see his chances as begin very low. He is on video offering cocaine for sale. I don't think the entrapment argument has a great deal of effort," Rowe told Chat!yesterday.

Banton was held in December last year by US Federal authorities at his Tamarac, Florida home and charged with conspiracy to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine. This, following a sting operation at a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled warehouse in Tampa, which resulted in the arrest of two other men who were about to purchase cocaine from undercover agents.

He has since argued that he was the victim of entrapment and his lawyer David Markos, has publicly said he intends to argue along that line when the trial involving Banton begins next month

The United States Department of State on Monday released its annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report in which it chastised the Bruce Golding-led administration for its handling of the extradition request for Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and questioned Jamaica's commitment to the fight against narco-trafficking.

Below is the full text of the report on Jamaica.

Summary

Jamaica remains the Caribbean's largest source of marijuana for the United States. It is also a transit point for cocaine trafficked from South America. While cooperation between Government of Jamaica (GOJ) and US Government (USG) law enforcement agencies remained strong, delays in proceeding with the significant extradition request for a major alleged narcotics and firearms trafficker who is reported to have ties to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, and subsequent delays in other extradition requests, have called into question Kingston's commitment to law enforcement cooperation with the US.

The GOJ's ambitious anticorruption and anticrime legislative agendas announced in 2007 remain stalled in Parliament. Five anticrime proposals under consideration as part of an extensive agenda to address the widespread crime challenges have yet to be debated by Parliament. Jamaica is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.

Status of country

Porous sea and air ports serve as direct export locations of marijuana and cocaine to the United States. Jamaican law stipulates that consumption of cocaine, heroin and marijuana are illegal, with marijuana being the most frequently abused. The possession and use of MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or Ecstasy) is controlled by Jamaica's Food and Drug Act and is currently subject to light, non-criminal penalties.

Jamaica's murder rate per capita reached 1,672 in 2009 making it one of the highest in the world. The difficult economic situation has spawned a significant increase in aggravated crime such as larceny, robbery and rape. This, in turn, has placed a national spotlight on increasingly brazen criminal activity throughout the country which continues to threaten civil society. A particular focus of concern has been the increasing activity of organised crime, which permeates both the legitimate business sector as well as the political sector. The "guns for ganja" trade exacerbates the problem as undocumented handguns continue to flow freely into the country. Recent assessments indicate that approximately 70 per cent of the illegal firearms entering Jamaica originated from the US.

Country actions against drugs in 2009

Policy Initiatives: The Ministry of National Security (MNS) and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) held a two-day high-level forum to discuss organised crime and its impact on Jamaica's political and economic stability. The MNS outlined an ambitious set of legislative proposals which included tackling the drugs for guns trade, lottery scams, extortion, and the trafficking of drugs and people. These proposals are currently being reviewed at the Cabinet level with the hopes of being presented to Parliament for ratification. Efforts to reform the police force, as mandated by the GOJ-approved Police Strategic Review in 2007, have yet to yield significant results in a law enforcement system that is plagued by corruption and inefficiencies.

The GOJ took steps to ensure greater accountability in the implementation of the anti-money laundering provisions of the Financial Investigative Division Act enacted in late 2008. Procedural training was provided to judges, prosecutors and investigators on how to apply the new legislation with further training exercises planned for the next two years. A Code of Practice for investigators has been developed to guide officials in the execution of their powers and is expected to be sent to Parliament. The Bank of Jamaica and the Financial Services Commission regulate compliance with the Proceeds of Crime Act of 2007 by financial sector institutions. As a result of enforcement efforts, 31 persons were charged with money laundering; $86 million (Jamaican dollars) in property seized; $3 million (US dollars) seized; and $1,335,724 (US Dollars) forfeited.

Jamaica is not in full compliance with the Egmont Group requirements. The Financial Action Task Force has deemed that Jamaica has complied fully with three of the recommendations, is largely compliant in 27 areas, partially compliant in 13, and non-compliant in five areas.

Pervasive corruption at Kingston's container and bulk terminals continues to undermine the USG Container Security and MegaPorts (CSI) initiatives team's activities. In an effort to combat corruption, the Commissioner of Jamaican Customs Department has taken measures to crack down on importers who evade customs duties and to dismiss staff complicit in criminal activity.

Accomplishments: Drug-related arrests were relatively stagnant at 6,346 arrests for 2009. Drug seizure levels showed a dramatic decrease with approximately nine metric tons of marijuana seized compared to nearly 32 metric tons in 2008. The GOJ seized 222 kilograms of cocaine, 2,785 Ecstasy tablets and 3.2 metric tons of hashish.

Law Enforcement Efforts: Two years after the strategic review of the police force, the GOJ has yet to implement the necessary recommended reforms. The slow paced, along with the increasing rate of aggravated crime compelled the Jamaican Executive Office (JEO), MNS, and the Police Services Commission (PSC) to assess the overall effectiveness of Police Commissioner Lewin's leadership.

Shortly after a public statement of no confidence was announced by the prime minister, Commissioner Lewin tendered his resignation and left office on November 6, 2009. He provided few details for his resignation but stated that there were numerous problems that he encountered with the authorities that conflicted with the macro management of law and order in Jamaica. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) senior official Owen Ellington was appointed acting police commissioner until the PSC formally appoints a permanent replacement in January 2010. While he has taken a strong public stance to eliminate corruption, he could face, as his predecessor did, internal, judicial and political roadblocks that hinder efforts to reform the police. In the past, these battles have paralysed the commissioner's authority and ability to affect change on the force. If this continues, Commissioner Ellington's fate could be similar to the previous three police commissioners who, despite the best of intentions, could not secure the necessary legislative support and political will to underscore their reform efforts at a time when murder and other violent crimes threaten to overwhelm the country.

The Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Attache office in Kingston currently supports a 41-person JCF Vetted Unit with investigative responsibility over violations of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), weapons smuggling, human trafficking, human smuggling, money laundering, and fraud investigations. Much of the unit's investigative efforts have been focused primarily on investigating lottery scam cases under the auspices of the Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing (JOLT) Task Force. The task force was established to combat the overwhelming amount of fraudulent monetary schemes perpetrated on United States citizens. Since inception of JOLT in May 2009, the task force has yielded 60 arrests, seized $283,460 (Jamaican dollars), repatriated $251,892.00 (US dollars) back to victims in the United States, and contributed to the opening of approximately 140 domestic ICE cases.

Corruption: As a matter of policy, GOJ does not facilitate or encourage illicit production or distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. However, pervasive public corruption continues to undermine efforts against drug-related and other crimes, and plays a major role in the safe passage of drugs and drug proceeds through Jamaica. For the first time, corruption ranked first to crime and violence as the area of greatest concern for Jamaicans. It remains the major barrier to improving counternarcotics efforts. Indeed, Jamaica's delay in processing the US extradition request for a major suspected drug and firearms trafficker with reported ties to the ruling party highlights the potential depth of corruption in the government.

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) investigates any report of corruption, and takes swift disciplinary action when warranted in furtherance of its zero tolerance policy. Unfortunately, a bill creating an Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor remains stuck in Parliament despite having the requisite legislative majority needed for passage. There has not been legislative action to create a National Anti-corruption Agency (NIIA), which could satisfy the Inter-American Convention against Corruption's requirements. However, the Anti-Corruption branch (ACB), headed by an internationally recruited police officer, continues to have success in identifying and removing corrupt officials, which included the dismissal of 59 JCF personnel since March 2009. The Branch's number one task is to target high-level officers responsible for corruption. The GOJ now requires senior police officers to sign employment contracts to improve accountability and facilitate the speedy dismissal of corrupt police officers.

Agreements and Treaties: Jamaica and the US have a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in place, which assists in evidence sharing. The US and Jamaica have a reciprocal asset-sharing agreement, and a bilateral law enforcement agreement governing cooperation on stopping the flow of illegal drugs by maritime means. Jamaica is a party to the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. The GOJ signed, but has not ratified, the Caribbean Regional Maritime Counterdrug Agreement. Jamaica is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1961 UN Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol. Jamaica is also a party to the UN Convention against Corruption, the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its three Protocols, as well as the Inter-American Convention against Corruption.

Until August 2009, the extradition treaty between the USG and the GOJ had been actively and successfully used by the United States to extradite suspected criminals from Jamaica. Extradition requests were routinely and timely processed by Jamaican political and judicial authorities. The GOJ's unusual handling of the August request for the extradition of a high-profile Jamaican crime lord with reported ties to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, which currently holds a majority in Parliament, on alleged drug and firearms trafficking charges marked a dramatic change in GOJ's previous cooperation on extradition, including a temporary suspension in the processing of all other pending requests and raises serious questions about the GOJ's commitment to combating transnational crime. The high-profile suspect resides in and essentially controls the Kingston neighbourhood known as Tivoli Gardens, a key constituency for the Jamaica Labour Party. Jamaica's processing of the extradition request has been subjected to unprecedented delays, unexplained disclosure of law enforcement information to the press, and unfounded allegations questioning US compliance with the MLAT and Jamaican law.

Cultivation/production: Natural environmental barriers such as swamps, marshes and mountainous terrains make it difficult to conduct marijuana crop surveys. Marijuana is grown in areas generally inaccessible to vehicular traffic on small plots in both rocky terrain and along the tributaries of the Black River in Saint Elizabeth. Eradication of marijuana decreased this year, with 254.9 hectares eliminated compared with 423 hectares eliminated in 2008. Much of this is due to fiscal constraints within the JDF.

Jamaican law also prohibits the use of herbicides; therefore only manual eradication is conducted. The manufacture, sale, transport, and possession of Ecstasy, methamphetamine, or the precursor chemicals used to produce them remains regulated by civil and administrative rather than criminal authorities. Jamaica is not a producer of precursor chemicals or other chemical substances, and therefore relies on the export countries to conform to international standards governing export verification. Jamaica does not import the prime components used in combination with diverted chemical substances for the production of synthetic drugs. Furthermore, the importation and sale of pharmaceutical products and chemical substances are regulated, and reinforced with fines or imprisonment. Additionally, other controls exist to monitor the usage of pharmaceutical products and chemical substances, including register controls, inspections and audits.

Drug flow/transit: Cocaine smugglers continued to use maritime containers, couriers, checked luggage, and bulk commercial shipments to move cocaine through Jamaica to the United States. There was a noticeable increase by law enforcement in detection of liquid cocaine secreted into consumer goods and luggage. Marijuana traffickers continue to barter for cocaine and illegal weapons. While Operation Kingfish, a multinational a multinational taskforce (GOJ, US, United Kingdom and Canada) to target high-profile, organised crime gangs, continued to successfully operate, it has not been able to exclusively focus on high-powered leaders of criminal gangs. This is due to the fact that these leaders are afforded community and, in some cases, police and political protection. Additionally, their activity is often linked with legitimate business holdings.

Domestic programmes/demand reduction: Jamaica has several demand reduction programmes, including the Ministry of Health's National Council on Drug Abuse. US funding supported the provision of books and teaching staff to an inner-city after-school programme. The GOJ operates five treatment centres through the Ministry of Health. The GOJ/Organisation of American States Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) university-level certificate programme in drug addiction and drug prevention remains active. The United Nations Office Drug Control (UN*o*dc) works directly with the GOJ and NGOs on demand reduction; however, due to limited resources these programmes have limited impact.

US policy initiatives and programmes

Policy Initiatives: The USG supports counternarcotics projects in Jamaica designed to increase the capacity of its law enforcement agencies to reduce the trafficking of illicit narcotics through Jamaica and sustain improvements in law-enforcement capabilities through modernisation and professionalisation of the JCF, while maintaining a strong and corruption-free law enforcement institution. The pressures of narcotics trafficking, money laundering, corruption and crime undermine the rule of law and democratic governance. Supporting Jamaica's transformation into a more secure, democratic, prosperous and stable partner represents a major US policy goal. This included enhancing the abilities of Jamaica's law enforcement agencies to detect and intercept shipments and detain traffickers.

Bilateral Cooperation: In 2009, the USG provided training and material support to elements of the JCF and JDF to strengthen their counternarcotics, and anticorruption capabilities and improve the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of organised crime, including assisting the GOJ with vetting of specialised units within the JCF. The Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team (JFAT) received specialised training, equipment, guidance and operational support from the US Marshals permanently stationed in Kingston. The US Marshals opened 71 new cases and closed 198 cases involving US fugitives. Jamaican authorities made 14 arrests, 15 extraditions and eight deportations during the year.

The JDF Coast Guard participated in joint deployments with the USG in Jamaican waters during 2009 under the auspices of "Operation Riptide" which allow both nations to conduct law enforcement operations within each other's maritime zones and is authorised under the Joint Jamaica-United States Maritime Cooperation Agreement Concerning Cooperation in Suppressing Illicit Maritime Trafficking. In addition, the US Coast Guard provided JDF Coast Guard resident, mobile and on-the-job training in maritime law enforcement, engineering and maintenance, search and rescue, port security, and leadership and management, while a three-phase training exercise was conducted, which covered land navigation, port security, and search and rescue, boat maintenance and repair, and leadership principles.

Multilateral Cooperation: While multi-nationals (United States, United Kingdom and Canada) continue to provide assistance to the GOJ for the implementation of 124 recommendations cited in the Police Strategic Review, a parallel strategy to enhance judicial operations has gained support from all partners. The priority to assist the Anti-Corruption Branch with tackling corruption among senior police officers while, in tandem, strengthening the judiciary infrastructure so it can adequately process all forms of criminality remains high. Recognising the abysmal five per cent conviction rate for murders, the US-sponsored a comprehensive training programme which focused on defining the role of the prosecutor, developing broader analytical tools, and applying their skills via mock case studies in concert with the United Kingdom Crown Prosecution Service, the United Kingdom's High Commission and the GOJ.

The Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs' Narcotics Affairs Section in Kingston also brought the Governments of Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic together to define, discuss and formulate a multilateral strategy to reduce transnational crimes in the region and organised crime activity between the three countries. As a result, the GOJ and Government of Haiti were in the final stages of drafting a security agreement covering a wide range of issues including joint operations, personnel exchanges, joint training, intelligence sharing, immigration, drugs and narcotics interdiction, transnational crime and gang reduction.

A two-day meeting comprising of representatives from the Jamaican, American, British and Canadian law enforcement agencies, several major international airline companies, and the Montego Bay Airport Authority took place in Montego Bay in December to discuss airport operations. The purpose of the meeting was to review current airport operations, identify airport assets and challenges, determine operational gaps, develop a measurable strategic response to combat previously defined roadblocks, and enhance cooperation between international law enforcement partners, the airlines and the airport authority. Over the course of the two-day meeting all objectives were met including a short-list of immediately actionable items for all players. Future meetings and task force groups have been established for the purpose of resource de-confliction, information sharing and strategic planning development.

The road ahead

The rise of gang-led violent crime and corruption will continue to pose a significant threat to social stability in Jamaica. As trust in the government to provide peace and security wanes daily, some communities are resorting to the use of "vigilante style" law and order by forming community policing units to target criminals who threaten their families and businesses. We encourage the GOJ to enhance its collaboration with the USG, and other regional partners, to develop a comprehensive gang-reduction strategy and pass legislation to criminalise participation in organised criminal gangs which is currently under review by Parliament.

The GOJ is encouraged to demonstrate its political will to address corruption by successfully investigating, prosecuting and convicting corrupt officials at all levels of government service and by the timely extradition of fugitives in accordance with the provisions of the bilateral extradition treaty, without regard to political influence or party affiliation.

We encourage the GOJ to maintain the independence of the Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor, the JCF's ACB, the Police Civilian Oversight Authority and the Financial Investigative Division, and provide them with the resources and political backing to undertake their tasks. We also encourage the GOJ to support the commissioner of police to implement the reform recommendations of the Ministry of National Security's Strategic Review of the JCF to ensure a professional non-corrupt organisation.

Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Yuri Gala Lopez, is booming with confidence that ongoing talks with the board of management at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland will greatly enhance the educational prospects of both countries.

Ambassador Lopez was a special guest at CASE in Portland last Friday and Saturday, where educators from the tertiary institution are seeking to expand the facility. The goal of the expansion is to increase CASE's student population from 2,000 to 10,000.

Ambassador Lopez's presence also pointed to the intention to foster an exchange programme among students from CASE and its counterpart in Cuba.

"We are neighbours from the same region of the Caribbean," said Lopez.

"We basically share one common culture, and history. A number of Jamaicans are studying in Cuban universities. My visit to this college could be the first step in trying to identify how we can move forward in the field of agriculture and related activities, and also to strengthen relations."

The ambassador noted that every attempt was being made to identify common areas of interest and institutions in Cuba.

Student-exchange programme

Acting president of CASE, Robert Shippey, explained that one of the college's objectives was to ensure, in the short term, that a student-exchange programme be launched.

"An exchange of students from the various faculties will be vigorously pursued," said Shippey.

"In that way, we can transfer technology and skills between the two countries, which have had good and solid relations in the past."

Meantime Barry Wahrmann, chairman of the Grounds Buildings and Infrastructure Committee and of the board of management at CASE, said Cuba provided much by way of inspiration.

"We will use the Cuban experience and ideals to build the dream of CASE becoming the greatest university in Jamaica, the Caribbean, Central and parts of South America," said Wahrmann.

Lopez's visit was made possible through the persistence of Larry Robertson, a member of the Jamaica Agriculture Society, who spent a number of years in Cuba.

There are currently 281 Jamaican students pursuing higher education in Cuba under regional and bilateral scholarship programmes.

Jamaica's refusal to extradite Christopher 'Dudus' Coke will not strain the country's relationship with the United States, says Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

Responding to questions posed by West St Andrew Member of Parliament Anthony Hylton in Gordon House yesterday, Golding said disagreements between sovereign states should not create a gulf between them.

"The Government is not putting our relationship with the US in jeopardy. The Government values that relationship. It is a long-standing relationship, and it is a relationship that nobody understands better than the people who sit on this side of the House," the prime minister said.

In its 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report report, published Monday, the United States chastised Jamaica for not doing enough to fight drug trafficking and organised crime.

"The GOJ is encouraged to demonstrate its political will to address corruption by successfully investigating, prosecuting, and convicting corrupt officials at all levels of government service, and by the timely extradition of fugitives in accordance with the provisions of the bilateral extradition treaty, without regard to political influence or party affiliation," Washington's report said.

Full response in senate

Golding has said a full response to the report will be done in the Senate by National Security Minister Dwight Nelson. He, however, told Parliament that Government is not putting the country's foreign relations at risk by not extraditing Coke.

"The foreign minister remains fully engaged with the US authorities. There is an issue of disagreement but my understanding of the conduct of foreign policy by a country, small though we are, challenged though we may be, but with 47 years of independence, it cannot be that disagreement with any other foreign power must mean placing the relationship in jeopardy," the prime minister said.

THE GOVERNMENT has taken note of the United States Narcotics Control Strategy Report of March 2010. The report, while acknowledging that cooperation between Jamaican and US law-enforcement agencies remains strong, reflects negatively on the effectiveness of our efforts to combat organised crime, drug trafficking and corruption, as well as the delays in enacting legislation to strengthen these efforts.

The report is being carefully examined and a detailed statement will be made in the Senate by the minister of national security on Friday.

The report includes prominent references to the Government's treatment of extradition requests and, in particular, to the request for the extradition of Christopher Coke, and it is to these issues that I wish to speak today. The Government has refrained from making any detailed public statement in relation to this matter because of the provisions of the Extradition Treaty between Jamaica and the US relating to confidentiality, a position reaffirmed in the several meetings between both sides on this particular matter. However, in view of the statements contained in the Narcotics Control Strategy Report, I am obliged to make this statement this afternoon, and the US authorities have been so advised.

Abnormal procedures

The request for the extradition of Coke was received on August 25, 2009. There were aspects of the case and the procedures employed that were abnormal and the Government, consistent with the provisions of the Extradition Treaty, sought clarifica-tion and additional information. In most instances, however, these peculiarities would not, by them-selves, prevent the request from being proceeded with.

In one important respect, however, it was found to be in violation of the law. The Interception of Communi-cations Act makes strict provisions for the manner in which intercepted communications may be obtained and disclosed. The evidence supporting the extradition request in this particular case violated those provisions. So serious an offence is this violation that the penalty provided by law is a maximum fine of five million dollars, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

The law further requires that for intercepted communication to be admissible in any criminal proceedings it must have been obtained, disclosed and used in accordance with these provisions. This was not done in this case. This was highly irregular.

Open discussions

The Jamaican Govern-ment, rather than summarily refusing the request, dis-cussed with the US authorities the breaches that had occurred, which made it impos-sible for the minis-ter, being aware of such breaches, to issue the authority to proceed. These discus-sions involved several meetings both here and in Washington, DC. At a meeting in Washington in December, where the legal position was fully outlined by the Jamaican authorities, the US authorities undertook to consider the issues and requested time to do so. Their response, received only yesterday, has not altered its position. Ever since the receipt of this extradition request, the Jamaican Government has remained constantly engaged with the US authorities on the matter.

In an effort to overcome the impediment cited above, the Jamaican Government indicated to the US autho-rities that if other evidence existed, the procurement and disclosure of which were not in violation of Jamaican law, the minister would be prepared to accept that evidence and issue the necessary authorityto proceed. No such evidence has up to now been presented.

The US Narcotics Control Strategy Report accuses the Govern-ment of "unfounded allegations ques-tioning US com-pliance with the Mutual Legal Assis-tance Treaty and Jamaican law", and has questioned the Government's commitment to law-enforcement cooperation with the US.

We respectfully reject these assertions. The minister of justice, in authorising extradition proceedings, has a duty to satisfy herself that they conform to the provisions of Jamaican law. As minister and, especially, as attorney general, she cannot authorise processes which she knows to be in violation of Jamaican law.

Since this Government assumed office in September 2007, we have received 26 extradition requests from the United States. The mi-nister has issued the authority to proceed in 13 of those cases. In the cases of nine, these requests were made through provisional warrants, which went directly to the courts and, therefore, were not subject to the minister's authorisation.

One request was based on a provisional warrant which has not yet been executed, as the subject has not yet been found. One request was withdrawn as the subject was subsequently arrested overseas. Apart from the Coke case, additional information has been sought in respect of one request, and the last request, which was received on December 7, 2009, has not yet been submitted to the minister for a decision.

We value the cooperation that has long existed between Jamaica and the US, especially in the area of law enforcement, because of the links between criminals in Jamaica and others in the US. We are firmly committed to the treaties and agreements between our two countries that underpin that cooperation.

We have assured the US authorities of our full support in all extradition and other matters consistent with our obligations under these treaties and agreements and the upholding of Jamaican law.

-- Edited by jubalson on Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 10:59:15 AM

PRIME MINISTER Bruce Golding has accused the United States(US) government of using illegally intercepted telephone conversations for the basis of drug and weapons trafficking charges against west Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Golding, in a statement to Parliament yesterday and responding to a scathing report from the US Department of State a day earlier, declared the Jamaican Government would not extradite one of its citizens without being provided with a stronger case.

"I know that perhaps it is politically expedient to say it is Coke. Or it could have been Matthews Lane strongman Zekes (Donald Phipps)," Golding told the House of Representatives. "Or it could be any of these. I am not defending the wrongdoing of any person but, if I have to pay a political price for it, I am going to uphold a position that constitutional rights do not begin at Liguanea."

Liguanea is the base of the US Embassy in St Andrew.

On Monday, the annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, released by the US Department of State, said the handling of the August request for Coke's extradition "marked a dramatic change in (the Jamaican Government's) previous cooperation on extradition".

The State Department said the delay in extraditing Coke, as well as a temporary suspension in the processing of all other pending requests, raised "serious questions" about the Jamaican Government's commitment to combating transnational crime.

However, Golding yesterday rejected the assertion, arguing his Government could not ignore breaches in the Coke case.

"The Interception of Communications Act makes strict provisions for the manner in which intercepted communications may be obtained and disclosed," the prime minister said. "The evidence supporting the extradition request in this particular case violated those provisions."

He added, "For intercepted communication to be admissible in any criminal proceedings, it must have been obtained, disclosed and used in accordance with these provisions. This was not done in this case. This was highly irregular."

Golding said that, under the circumstances, Attorney General and Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne had a duty to protect the constitutional rights of Coke and not extradite him.

"If the minister, having examined it, recognises that it is supported by evidence that was illegally obtained, disclosed or used, but still proceeds to sign it, she should immediately sign one other document - her resignation," Golding said.

The prime minister stressed that since his administration assumed office in September 2007 it has received 26 extradition requests from the US, 16 of which have been signed by the justice minister.

Responding to Golding's statement, Opposition members Peter Bunting and Dr Peter Phillips questioned why the attorney general would not simply sign the document and allow the courts to determine the merits of the Government's concerns.

Phillips said the structure of the extradition law requires that there be a procedural check by the minister with responsibility for justice, but matters regarding the quality of justice should be dealt with by the court, as well as the legality of evidence.

"There is a reserve power usually considered at the end, not at the beginning of the proceedings, to ensure that there is not the risk of prejudicing hearings held in the jurisdiction that is requesting the extradition of the person," Phillips said.

Golding responded that "it was not intended by this Parliament when thelegislation was framed that the minister was to be some lubricated conduit through which extradition requests were to automatically pass".

"The minister has to satisfy herself, or himself, that the processes that were used in submitting the request are in conformity with Jamaican law. When the matter goes before the court, the court has the responsibility to determine whether a prima facie case has been made out sufficient to ground the extradition of the subject."

Coke, who is the reputed leader of Tivoli Gardens, a section of West Kingston represented in Parliament by Golding, has been indicted by a grand jury in the United States.

Yesterday, the prime minister noted that the identity of the co-conspirators named in the indictment are unknown. He said statements supporting an extradition request should not be veiled.

He also suggested that the wiretapping of Coke's telephone conversations was not done by the United States, but was instead transported to that jurisdiction to be used against him.

-- Edited by jubalson on Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 10:54:09 AM

RAPPER CONFIRMS . . . R&B SINGER MARQUES HOUSTON USED TO BE BEYONCE'S LOVER . . . MAY HAVE TAKEN HER VIRGINITY!!!

MediaTakeOut.com has been hearing rumors for years that R&B singer Marques Houston used to be BLOWING OUT BEYONE'S BACKS way back when,

Well now rapper Joe Budden, who is a longtime music insider and a former Def Jam signed artist, is claiming to have the JUICY details. On his Twitter page, Joe Tweeted that Marques used to "pipe down" Beyonce.

Later, when he realized what he had done, Joe deleted the Tweet. But not before one of MediaTakeOut.com's readers managed to get a screen shot of it - see below!!

Jay-Z has revealed that he is currently working on some Mob Squad crew, which includes Trey Songz and Young Jeezy. Jay says that fans can expect to hear their first record together soon. "Yeah, the Mob Squad, I'm trying to put that together," Jay told radio personality Greg Street. "Trey made a song, I'm just trying to refine the hook so we can get our first song out there. I don't know if Jeezy heard it yet so I'm probably gonna surprise him with this but we got [it.] Mob Squad."

Previously, Trey Songz hinted at a possible collab with Jay-Z and Young Jeezy. "The way Jay explained it to me, he wanted to give people the best show possible," Songz said in an interview. "They could have easily done it by themselves and it'd be great. But [Jay] wanted to give the best show. All of us bring a separate aspect to the table, making it a great show all the way. I'm there for the ladies, of course. Then I bring an R&B soul vibe and my hip-hop. Jeezy got the streets. And Hov is Hov. It's definitely all in the talks [as far as collaborations.] It's the Mob Squad. Me, Jay, Jeezy, we plan on working together while we on this tour because the energy we have together when we get around each other is amazing. And like I said, all aspects like that on a record is amazing. Maybe while we out on the road we get it done."

Thousands of persons waited patiently for the arrival of Vybz Kartel a.k.a Addi the Teacha on the Magnum Follow Di Arrow stage, and they were not disappointed on Sunday morning at James Bond Beach.Buffetted by the high-profile exits of artistes in recent weeks and withering critiques by his detractors in the media and entertainment circles, the Gaza Don proved why he has been Jamaica's top deejay two consecutive years with a great performance peppered with not only hits but the future promise of a new vanguard of artistes.

From the moment, he declared 'de pon di Gaza' from backstage, the crowd began to hum with a nervous kind of excitement. Then the crowd erupted with a huge roar as he hit the stage singing 'Mind Pon Mi Money'.

"Mek mi tell yu why mi say Gaza," Kartel crooned before doing Nah on the Street Team riddim. The crowd roared and fire torches belched orange in the cool morning air.

Getting comfortable on the stage, he asked: 'how oonu love me so?". The girls screamed. Then the band struck up the riddim for Love Dem, and the girls sang 'set me free, set me free'.

"Mi nah pay no man no mind cause gal ah run mi down..." he said, then launched into Love Dem. He then invited on Sheba to do their combination top ten hit, 'Gal Wah Mi Do', however Sheba needs to learn how to project her voice more so that the crowd can hear her properly. After that song, Kartel segued neatly into Nah Let Go, then invited on Jahvinci who did 'Touch the Road Today' sans Blak Ryno of course.

Popcaan got a forward for Nuh Ordinary Girl before taking a moment to big up Vybz Kartel.

"Yu see Vybz Kartel, all when him do good, people say a bad, but mi no business who waan lef, Gaza forever!" he said, as the Gaza fans roared.

Then he deejayed a song called 'Dem Sell We Out' which appeared to diss Blak Ryno.

He deejayed: "Wah dem do it fah?/A coulda chicken or pizza/Tell me why mi yu do that Peter/Yu never tough like Lisa/(Chorus)Dem sell we out (yeah) Use mi father fi get visa/the little fool never real to the ting/deep inna him hear him bad mind the king/a watch the man rose gold chain and ring/anno dat gi him power, ah de song weh him sing/yu know say yu bad mind from yu born/yu no rate Jahvinci, yu no rate Shawn Storm/vex through the general sign Popcaan/caan believe the good wheat tun inna thorn/CHORUS dem sell we out.

The crowd was a bit perplexed but sections of the crowd gave him a forward.

Vybz Kartel then did two more hits, Virginity and Mr. Officer on the Triple Bounce, the latter getting a huge forward from the crowd. He then segued into Bicycle and Slow Motion.

"Vybz Kartel get the most fight inna the business, but ah work mi come fi work," he said. "Mi anno *****man and mi is not no bowcat." Then he did 'Mi No Bore My Tongue' and the crowd gave him another big forward.

One of the highlights of Kartel's performance was his introduction of Gaza Slim who sang a new song, Dedicated. It was here that one could see the genius that makes Kartel such a beast in the local industry. First, he directed the band on how to play her, and sang harmony as she crooned her song, and then on her next song, Mean Man which she did a cappella, he gave her encouragement and then began to hit the microphone rhythmically as she delivered her song. 
That is the essence of what makes Kartel great, his willingness to take chances with young acts and to bankroll their development to the next stage of their careers. He also introduced a new act called Tommy Lee who wowed the audience with a vibesy song. Shawn Storm also got a good response for Mama Bawl.

Christopher 'Dudus' Coke is wanted in the United States on alleged drug-related charges.

The United States Government has lashed out at Jamaica's handling of the extradition request for west Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

In an unusually caustic report on Jamaica in its annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, the BarackObama administration made it clear it was not satisfied with the handling of the extradition request and charged that the Jamaican government was not holding to the rules.

While co-operation between (the) Government of Jamaica (GOJ) and United States Government law-enforcement agencies remained strong, delays in proceeding with the significant extradition request for a major alleged narcotics and firearms trafficker, who is reported to have ties to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, and subsequent delays in other extradition requests, have called into question Kingston's commitment to law-enforcement co-operation with the US, the report claimed. According to Washington, in the past, extradition requests from its law-enforcement agencies were routinely and timely processed by Jamaican political and judicial authorities.

 

serious questions

The report further stated that the GOJ's unusual handling of the August request for the extradition of Dudus marked a dramatic change in previous co-operation on extradition, including a temporary suspension in the processing of all other pending requests and raises serious questions about the GOJ's commitment to combating transnational crime.

Last night, Minister of Information Daryl Vaz was unwilling to speak on the US report, pointing THE STAR instead to National Security Minister Dwight Nelson or Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne. Neither could be reached for a comment.

Just Wrong: Guy Records Ultimate Figher "Chuck Liddell" Exercising Ass'D Out With His Wife All Naked! (Without Them Knowing)

-- Edited by Applezzzz on Saturday 27th of February 2010 09:04:20 AM

Two nine year olds known as the Wonder Twins for their record-beating exam results are set to become the youngest pupils admitted to a British secondary school.

Paula and Peter Imafidon, from Waltham Forest, London, amazed parents and teachers when they passed an A-level maths exam at the age of seven.

The twins have been waiting to find out which secondary school they will attend, along with thousands of other youngsters - who are two years older - across the country.

Peter and Paula, who attend a state primary in London, were helped by their three older brothers and sisters, all of whom were also child prodigies.

Their father Chris said he was thrilled by his childen's achievements at school.

He denied any particular genius in the family, crediting their success to the Excellence in Education programme for inner city children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"Every child is a genius," he said. "Once you identify the talent of a child and put them in the environment that will nurture that talent then the sky is the limit.

"Look at Tiger Woods, or the Williams sisters - they were nurtured.

"You can never rule anything out with them, the competition between the two of them makes them excel in anything they do.

"They are forever competing and fighting, even if it's just for the remote control or the computer."

Paula hopes to become a maths teacher, while Peter hopes to become Prime Minister one day.

As we previously reported, Lil Wayne recently shot seven music videos in one night. After finishing one of these seven, Weezy says "just finished up that Drake video, thats 2 down, 5 to go. About to shoot this Shannell video." Of the new video, Wayne says "this suckers crazy, wait untill you hear the verse on this song."

Later Wayne checks back in after he shot three more music videos, including one for Rick Ross. Weezy says he's about to shoot one with Travis McCoy (of Gym Class Heroes) called "Tattoo Girl."

East Hampton Town Police have arrested a Florida woman for trespassing on an East Hampton property she apparently believed belonged to the rapper Sean Combs.

Police arrested Cemelia Green, 35, of Jacksonville on February 22 and charged her with criminal mischief in the second degree and criminal trespass in the second degree, both misdemeanors. The arrest took place at a house on Bianco Road about a week after police were called to the location for another incident involving Ms. Green. Mr. Combs owns a house on Hedges Banks Road.

On February 12, police were informed that a woman had been into headquarters requesting the location of Mr. Combss residence. Police were then called to the house on Bianco Road by a maintenance worker and found Ms. Green, who, police said, had told the worker that she was married to Mr. Combs and owned the property. Police said they approached Ms. Green and she left without incident.

But on February 22, while on routine patrol, officers found Ms. Green walking behind the house, and when they approached her she got into her car and locked the doors. Police said they canvassed the area and found that a sliding glass door had been broken recently. The officer was able to talk Ms. Green out of the car, police said, and she was arrested and taken to headquarters. Bail was set at $5,000 and Ms. Greens vehicle was impounded.

Ce'Cile - File

Badgyal Ce'Cile, who celebrated her birthday last Wednesday, almost never got to see another one following an incident in St Ann last Friday night in which her BMW motor car was forced off the road by an errant trailer driver.

The singer's luxury car was damaged when it broke through a stone wall as she tried to avoid being crushed by the trailer. The front end was damaged leaving the car 'wobbling'. The left fog light was broken, the tyres were damaged and there was also damage to the fender. However, the airbags did not deploy and the grateful singer isn't worried much about the damage.

"I thought I was gonna die," she said, while relating the incident to THE STAR yesterday. "I could not believe I was still in one piece."

DRIVING SAFELY

Ce'Cile explains that on Friday, she was in a hurry to get to Montego Bay, but got an early warning that she needed to slow down. "I got a speeding ticket at Faith's Pen and from there I decided to drive moderately," she said.

Keen on driving safely, she took a detour through Chalky Hill and when she got to an area known as Hermitage about 8:38 p.m, she said she saw a car coming in the opposite direction. She also noticed, 'a long flat-bed trailer' overtaking the car and bearing down on her. The trailer's lights were not on.

stay calm

Startled, but remaining calm under the circumstance, she quickly decided that if she could get enough of the car out of the way she would perhaps sustain only minor injuries. She swerved the car towards the embankment. "The car broke through the wall and got completely out of the way of the truck," she said, still in a state of disbelief.

The driver braked causing the truck to jack-knife and a car travelling behind the trailer suffered windshield damage. Ce'Cile said the truck driver, perhaps believing she was badly hurt or worse, sped off. Another motorist, who witnessed what happened, chased the trailer and managed to write down the licence plate numbers and took them back to Ce'Cile. She said the motorist told her the trailer driver "was driving like a maniac trying to get away".

While the trailer was being chased, the badly shaken singer was still sitting inside the vehicle. It was only after being prompted by onlookers that she alighted from the damaged car. She said it took seven men to get the car back onto the road from off the embankment. "I want to thank all the people who helped and for chasing the trailer and getting the licence plate numbers," she said.

She was in such shock, she said, that it was only after she eventually got to Montego Bay later that night and while talking to someone about the incident that it finally sunk in and she broke into tears. It didn't help that she reported the matter to the Coral Gardens police who told her that they were unable to help because the truck did not hit her.

She said the residents of Hermitage told her that what happened to her was not uncommon as "a so the trailer man dem drive all the time." She told THE STAR that she felt badly about the incident knowing that had someone been standing near the wall she could have injured them or worse. "Had I been distracted, like I am sometimes, I would have been dead," she said.

 

"I thought I was gonna die. I could not believe I was still in one piece."

Youth stabs cellmate for snoring too loudly

A prisoner attacked his cellmate with a knife for snoring too loudly, police said today (Tues).

The 19-year-old attacked his 35-year-old cellmate at a prison in Hirtenberg in Lower Austrias Baden district with a knife from prison cutlery.

He then alerted guards through the signaling system and went back to bed.

The victim was taken to Vienna General Hospital (AKH), where he underwent emergency surgery. Doctors said yesterday evening the man was no longer in danger of death and had been moved out of intensive care.

The assailant who was to have been released this April after having been convicted of robbery, will now spend even more time in prison.

A POLICE sergeant and A corporal who were both recently arrested by investigators from the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) for their involvement in the larceny of motor vehicles and motor vehicle engine and body parts from the Ramble Police Station in Hanover, have both been charged.

Sergeant Derrick Barnes was charged last weekend with four counts of larceny as a servant while Corporal Shane Givans was charged yesterday with one count of aiding and abetting larceny as a servant.

Both men will be brought before the Hanover Resident Magistrate's Court today.

The woman, in her twenties from Ludlow, kept hidden a rare piedfort - a 14th century coin-like object worth £2000.

She took the silver artefact to Ludlow museum to be identified in January last year claiming she had found it in her garden.

But after being informed she must register the find with the coroner under section 8 of the treasure act she continued to keep the treasure hidden.

South Shropshire coroner Anthony Sibcy eventually contacted the police in April 2009.

After an investigation by West Mercia police the woman was summonsed to appear at Ludlow Magistrates Court on February 17th.

The case was adjourned until Wednesday February 24 when the woman pleaded guilty to the offence of finding an object believed to be Treasure and not reporting it.

She was ordered to hand over the piedfort, was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £25 court costs.

Dr Michael Lewis, Deputy Head, Department Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum, confirmed that the case was the first known of its kind in the country to have resulted in prosecution.

He said: "This is a landmark case and it sends a clear message to those who fail to report Treasure.

"It shows that the police and the coroner's service give Treasure and archaeological heritage law a high profile and will take proactive measures against those that disregard it.

"The woman in this case was informed that the item had been identified as potential Treasure and told on numerous occasions that her find needed to be reported to the coroner.

"Unfortunately, she failed to follow the advice given and did not report her find to the coroner within the statutory period of 14 days.

"However, we are delighted that the artefact, which has great historical significance, has now been handed over under the instruction of the magistrates."

WENN -- Whitney Houston's tour promoter has offered an explanation for the singer's faltering voice -- the star refuses to quit smoking. The R&B superstar took her "Nothing But Love" shows to Australia this month, but the tour has been marred by complaints from critics and fans Down Under who claim she has been struggling to complete her sets. Houston allegedly coughed her way through a show in Brisbane, taking regular breaks to catch her breath, while fans are reported to have walked out of her concert in Sydney when the singer's voice began to crack.Her spokesperson recently shrugged off rumors of ill health, and now tour promoter Andrew McManus has opened up about Houston's breathing difficulties, pinpointing her tobacco habit as the cause.

LONDON - An English dog-owner was fined and barred from driving for six months after taking his pet for a stroll while sitting behind the wheel of his car.

Prosecutors said Paul Railton was spotted by a cyclist driving slowly along a country lane in December, holding his dog's leash through the car window as the animal trotted alongside.

Railton pleaded guilty Monday to not being in proper control of a vehicle, but told the court that "a lot of people exercise their dogs in that manner."

His lawyer, Paul Donoghue, said 23-year-old Railton acknowledged "it was a silly thing to do and there was an element of laziness." Donoghue was quoted by British newspapers as saying that his client "does not usually drive in such a manner."

Railton was ordered by magistrates in Consett, northeast England, to pay a 66 pound (about $100) fine, plus costs.

He also received three penalty points on his driver's license and as a result of existing points is barred from driving for six months.

"It is a joke," Railton said after the hearing, according to British newspaper The Sun. "I'm not bothered. I knew I would get three points. I might save myself some money not having a car."

Several British newspapers reported that Railton was involved in an attempted murder case last year. He was reportedly due to stand trial in connection with a shooting in 2007, but the case was dismissed because of police misconduct.

For weeks now I have sat back and watched how many people in the media have used different code words when describing the president and many issues involving African people. I am writing this open letter today to ask you to honest with your thoughts. Many of you are using code words such as: Communist, Socialist, Marxist or other phrases such as we want our country back. This is letter is to ask you to say what you really meanAnd that is you dont want a Black man in the White House.

RELATED: AUDIO: Glenn Beck Calls Obama Emerging Brutal Dictator

Many Americans of Caucasian descent listen to and follow Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh on an every day basis. These are some of the main perpetrators of this code language involving the President and many African Americans in this country. I issue this challenge to the three stogies and any of their counter parts to a presidential style debate on the issues.

When I hear the code words that you all are using such as: We want our country back, isnt this all of our country? If my history is correct my ancestors helped to create this country as we know it today. Even in slavery time we created inventions and a work force that fueled the economic development of this country. So whose country is it anyway? Some of you make the argument that we need to get back to the constitution, what the framers of the constitution had in mind. Again, if my history is correct the framers never had the poor or the blacks in mind when they were framing the constitution. So I ask you again, stop speaking in code and just say what you feel. You cannot take a black man being president of the United States.

Furthermore, I often wonder, are the powers that be in the media trying to stir this hatred in our country for our president? When I look at the television I see no African Americans with a show like either of the three above or any show that is an opinion based show. Surely there is some qualified African American who could combine political facts with opinions.

RELATED: Limbaugh Calls Obama Uppity

Unlike you I will not speak in code. I think you are idiots, I think you are uneducated and I think you are a stain on the face of America. For the hatred that you teach and spew is even a disgrace for your ancestors to look at. Now if any of you have the testicular fortitude to answer my challenge to debate or say what you really mean I eagerly look forward to that day.

Sincerely,

One who speaks what he means...

A DRUGS smuggler, who swallowed 123 condoms and 1.7 kilos of cocaine, has been arrested in Switzerland.

THIS youngster is a living version of India's multi-limbed God Lakshmi and worshipped every day as holy.

Police across the island are urging owners of BlackBerry phones to be very careful when using them in public since the device is one of the preferred instruments for thieves.

According to the police, the BlackBerry phone is extremely easy to sell since it is in high demand.

Superintendent Derrick Knight, head of the in St Andrew South police, told THE STAR that people with BlackBerry phones are being targeted. "The BlackBerry device has always been the choice among robbers because they are a high-profile phone and they are a quick market for sellers," said the senior officer.

He said thieves target owners because they can sell the phone for $10,000 when compared to the retail price of $50,000.

 

detection methods

Knight said the police have developed methods of detecting persons who steal these phones, but people cannot be careless with their phones and their lives. "The public must be very careful about how, where and when they use their BlackBerry phones," said the senior officer.

The Montego Bay and Ocho Rios police are issuing a similar warning. According to them, the robbers usually run and snatch the phones from the hands or waists of owners.

The Ocho Rios police said tourists who travel with BlackBerry or iPhone instruments are normally targeted.

"They do not want the regular camera phones, they want the BlackBerry or iPhone because they are quick to sell, just like laptops," a policeman said.

 

highly targeted

In Montego Bay, police say that although the phones are highly targeted, the amount of phones being stolen has been reduced for various reasons. "There has been a reduction in the amount of BlackBerry phones being stolen when compared to the last two years when you would probably have two persons complaining of their phones being robbed, almost each day," said a policeman.

He said since the introduction of the various BlackBerry plans, more people can easily purchase these phones, while others probably choose to travel with a cheaper phone on the road.

Despite a reduction in BlackBerry phone theft in Montego Bay, downtown Kingston and Ocho Rios have experienced an increase.

A policeman with the Kingston Central police said there has been a steady increase in reports of BlackBerry phones being stolen. "There has definitely been an increase, there is also a belief that there could be a cellular phone racket," said the cop.

Police sources are linking a rise in laptop theft in sections of the island to the deadly lottery scam.

Sources say players in the scam are using high-tech methods to steal the devices as they try to evade police attention.

"What we are finding is that the players have come up with a way to detect where laptops are. The men use these laptops for a little while and then dispose of them. They do this to get rid of the evidence, so to speak," Detective Inspector Travis Carter of the Area 1 police said when contacted yesterday. Montego Bay, St James, which is dubbed the 'home' of the lottery scam is one place said to be affected by a rise in the theft of laptops.

 

actual figures

THE STAR was unable to get actual figures as those who could assist were said to be out of office for the day. Other areas also said to be affected by the theft are Hanover, St Elizabeth and the Corporate Area.

Last Tuesday, gunmen entered the campus of the University of Technology (UTech) in St Andrew and stole two laptops.

Reports are that some time about 8:30 p.m. students were under a gazebo when they were approached by two men who immediately declared that they were armed.

The men took the laptops, got into a motor vehicle and sped off.

Director of Safety and Security at UTech, Bobby Smith, told THE STAR after the incident that he also believes the theft were connected to the lottery scam.

He said that owners of laptops sometimes unknowingly exposed their devices to thieves.

 

Wi-Fi detectors

"Sometimes they leave the laptop in the car and with the Wi-Fi signal on. The thieves have detectors for Wi-Fi signals so they know which cars laptops are in. People put their laptops in sleep mode instead of turning them off, and they are detected and stolen," he explained.

Consequently, the police are urging laptop owners to completely shut down their devices when not in use. The lottery scam came to light in 2005 and has since become a multimillion-dollar business for criminals. The fraud has been blamed for scores of ruthless killings, especially in and around the busy city of Montego Bay. Players in the fraud use illicitly obtained personal information about United States citizens to con them into sending moneyunder the guise that they have won the lottery.

Stacious gave one of the more brilliant performances of the night. Lisa Hyper started well but fizzled. - Nathaniel Stewart photos

The hype surrounding the fuming female dancehall artistes, who promised fans a spectacle when they took the stage at Magnum Follow Di Arrow, was short-lived, as Stacious and Face were the deejays to get the better of their audience at James Bond Beach in St Mary.

Stacious delivered a brilliant performance Sunday morning, and stole the much-hyped female segment of the show. But the biggest shock came when former member of the Portmore Empire, Lisa Hyper, went a little too low and did the unthinkable, by disrespecting Bounty Killer in front of what was obviously his audience.

After being booed severely, Lisa Hyper, to her credit managed to finish her set, and emerged from the experience relatively unscratched. Stacious was arguably the best female performer of the night, even though Face may have well contested that with a brief, yet, exciting performance.

Stacious walked out to a warm reception and capitalised well when she introduced her segment with Goodas Clap, before she neatly squeezed into Nah Gi None, directed at Lisa Hyper, and which earned her at least three huge forwards for choice lines such as "shine daddy john like soldier man booth" and "when mi over Gully side a buss shatty, yuh over Big Yard ah ..........."

Face generated a lot of excitement in a short, spicy stint where she levelled allegations that Queen Paula and Macka Diamond were sexual partners. The crowd roared with laughter at the remark and bawled for more. She closed with a peppery verse ending with a reference to Paula saying "ina yu bleach out face mi wah chuck yuh."

 

big roar

Lisa Hyper was given a special introduction by MC Nuffy, with much fanfare as he listed out all her names, including Lisa Swiper. She hit the stage to a big roar from the crowd when she declared: "A who dem a b........ ramp wid?" She then deejayed Death Sentence, which she directed at Stacious. Her forwards quickly took a cardinal when she deejayed, "Bounty a go St Thomas go ...... off donkey."

A Magnum bottle whistled dangerously from one section of the crowd and landed close to her feet as she stepped back, but luckily for her, the other few missiles fell harmlessly. She was later ushered off the stage by Nuffy.

Macka diamond came onstage armed with a prop, that of a picture of her son, saying she did not want to disgrace herself even though they were trying to 'draw her out'. Her attack against Unicorn lacked real venom and sting, and her set soon fizzled. But, she closed on a high note when she said, "Mi want a c.....y weh long like di one Lisa Hype lick."

Queen Paula exited the stage with haste after an ill-fated delivery and Ikaya would, by now be kicking herself to have allowed Unicorn to stay that long on stage, as her performance was brought to an abrupt end.

Queen Paula came out ready for war.

It was no surprise when information reaching OutAroad.com that Blak Rynoreleased a single titled Mi Lef which gives a brief description as to why he had to flee from the Gaza.

In the intro Ryno argued, "How yuh mean mi confuse, yuh nuh hear mi seh left, a you deaf.

In verse 1: Blak Ryno stated that hes not going let anyone violate him like they did to the "raper". Ryno further explains that he got a called requesting that his presence his needed for a meeting which he refuses to attend. "Dawg a weh yuh deh".

Blak Ryno Family Moved?

The latest info about the Blak Ryno "Mi Lef Saga" is that his family had to be escorted out of Waterford by the police. OutAroad.com tried several times to get in touch with Blak Ryno but the phone rang without an answer.

Kartel says ...'Ryno is confused'
Blak Ryno Portmore Empire head Vybz Kartel has described his former protégé, Blak Ryno, as a confused individual after his recent departure from the crew. Speaking to THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday, Kartel discussed his reaction to Ryno's abrupt departure from the Portmore Empire on Wednesday, of which he has been a member since January 2007.   priorities mixed Kartel said: "Ryno is, in my analysis, a confused individual going through some sort of post-adolescence trauma, where in his pursuit to find himself is getting his priorities mixed up and as a result, is making decisions in a subconscious, bewildered state of mind." The deejay further said that: "Portmore Empire and Gaza will continue to grow from strength to strength merely because I am Gaza." According to Kartel, persons can look out for his newest member Gaza Slim and his protégé Popcaan. The Portmore Empire started in 2007 after Kartel's departure from the Alliance in 2006. The Empire have consisted of members such as Popcaan, Singa Blinga, Dosa Medicine, Lisa Hype, Shawn Storm, Gaza Indu, Sheba, Jah Vinci among others. Blak Ryno was an original member of the Portmore Empire and was seemingly one of the closest to Kartel, often citing him as a major influence and called him 'daddy' on numerous occasions. Ryno is the third deejay to have departed the Empire recently, the first being Lisa Hype, now called Lisa Hyper. Hyper was dismissed from the Empire late last year shortly after a compromising picture of the deejay began circulating on the Internet. In January newcomer to the Empire, Gaza Kim - now known as Kym, willingly left the Empire after an incident which took place in the 'Big Yard' community off Mannings Hill Road. Kym was severely beaten on what sources say were orders by Kartel. Kartel later denied any involvement.

They were arguably the best moments of Magnum Follow Di Arrow when ace deejays Assassin and Bounty Killer took the stage and expertly delivered two of the most memorable performances, which helped make the event's 11th anniversary at James Bond Beach in St Mary a successful one.

For long periods, the crowd had suffered immensely from poor performances and seemed desperate for some real excitement with the morning sun peeking over the hills.

 

determined to satisfy

Following the duo Twin of Twins, whose performance was at its comedic best, Assassin was determined to satisfy his audience even though there were several technical glitches. He was not going to let that inconvenience stop him from becoming one of the night's highlight performers, and with just a minute into his performance, Assassin, who recently took on the moniker Agent Sasco, had the crowd feeding from his hands with hits likeLeave Us Alone and Hand In Di Air.

One of the obvious reasons why Assassin has lasted for over a decade in the music business is his consistency in providing clean lyrics, which have been regularly overshadowed by the lewdness of other artistes. Aware that the patrons were giving him their undivided attention, Assassin fantastically delivered Hand To Mouth andPriorities, before showing his versatility in Self Defence and Wanna Be Ballers.

The crowd clearly enjoyed his performance, and as he sang the words of Almighty while he exited the stage, the entire venue applauded him for a true professional approach to his craft.

Bounty Killer has always believed, for an artiste to make it to the top, he must be consistent in his approach to the music while being able to entertain at the highest level. Acknowledging Assassin's performance, the 'Warlord' said, "Nuff respect to Assassin, a suh people fi perform" before going into his own catalogue of hit songs.

A solid performer throughout his 17-year career, it was just left for Bounty Killer to reproduce one of those performances which has propelled him into the elite group of stage performers. And he did just that. Being the personality that he is though, Bounty Killer wouldn't be who he is without some sort of outburst.

"Ennis mi luv yuh and wi know seh yuh luv wi too ... But next year don't bring dem idiot artiste yah pon di show," said the 'Poor People's Governor' in reference to Lisa Hyper, who made disparaging remarks about him earlier in her performance.

Yet any worries of the Sufferer lyricist making an early exit were groundless. Bounty Killer got off to a flying start and kept the momentum through his performance. The veteran was probably also proving a point that he was still the backbone of dancehall music and he had the fans waving their hands to hits like Money Maker and We Nuh Fren Fish.

He called on his musical protégé, Mavado, and the two went on an encore of hit songs, making way for the remaining artistes backstage to perform.

See tomorrow's STAR for full details on what took place at Magnum Follow Di Arrow.

Bounty Killer showed glimpses of greatness during his onstage set at Magnum Follow Di Arrow, delivering a high energy set chock full of hits even while simultaneously defending his honour and pillorying the Gaza name. He set a blistering pace as soon as he came onstage "What that piece ah ting try to do?" he asked incredulously. "Don't do da something de!". He did a line out of 'When Yu Look at Mi', and the Alliance and Gaza fans cheered him on. "Why Gaza little dutty johncrow ah diss me like that?" However, one disgruntled Gaza fan did hurl a bottle in his general direction, but it fell short of the stage. "Just because you say Gaza and Gully, that don't mean you lose your morals in the middle," he said, getting dangerously preachy for a crowd already on edge. "Me **** what? The people dem who join Lodge, dem **** goat and monkey and dem ting de...mi tell yu that ting nah go last." He then did medley of his older hits that included 'Riding West', Run Come Back inna Mi Magnum and 'Coulda Big or Tall'. He also did Moneymaker to a tremendous roar before inviting on Tyrical to do Mi Waan My Own. He also did Full Suit a Black before he invited on Mavado to help close his set. It was a good performance by the Killer in front of what was essentially his home crowd. He even seemed to give a nod to Beenie Man as he conceded 'yu nah go diss me like how Kartel diss me'. But as great a strategist as Bounty Killer is, he played perfectly into Lisa Hyper's hands as her earlier performance had precisely the desired effect she intended: it had the Warlord focussed squarely on the former Gaza first lady. And that is no mean achievement.

-- Edited by CRAZY-CHICKEN on Sunday 28th of February 2010 05:04:19 PM

 Lil Wayne's already delayed jail term in a gun case abruptly got put off again Tuesday because of a fire in the courthouse where he was due to be sentenced.

The midmorning blaze shut down a Lower Manhattan court for the day, postponing the rap star's court date among other proceedings, courts spokesman David Bookstaver said.

It wasn't immediately clear when the sentencing already put off two weeks because Lil Wayne needed dental surgery would be rescheduled. Defense lawyer Stacey Richman said the rapper was en route to New York for his 2:15 p.m. hearing when she learned of the court closing.

Having braced to start his time behind bars, he wasn't pleased to hear about the postponement, she said.

"Once you make up your mind to do something, you want to do it," she said.

The Grammy Award-winning rapper had been expected to get a yearlong jail term after pleading guilty in October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He admitted having a loaded gun on his tour bus when it was stopped in Manhattan in July 2007.

Lil Wayne, 27, was initially due to be sentenced and start his term last month, but the date was pushed back so he could have surgery on his gemstone-encrusted teeth.

He had bid a drawn-out adieu to friends and fellow artists, including a Rolling Stone cover story last month and a video blitz this past weekend. He said in a video clip sent Monday to MTV News that he shot footage for seven music videos with various artists in one night over the weekend.

Born Dwayne Carter, he has been a rapper since his teens and one of the genre's most prolific, ubiquitous and profitable figures in recent years. His "Tha Carter III" was the best-selling album of 2008.

His latest album, "Rebirth," was released this month.

The courthouse fire apparently started in a wooden contractor's shed in the basement of the building at 100 Centre St., which houses many of Manhattan's criminal courts, its district attorney's office and other agencies.

More than 1,000 people were forced to leave as smoke spread in the building, leaving a haze in the lobby and a light plume of yellow-brown smoke near the roof. Several surrounding blocks in the busy zone of courts and other government offices were closed for more than an hour.

Eight people suffered minor injuries, including five firefighters, the Fire Department said. Court officers were seen helping a woman with an oxygen mask walk out of the building.

One of the injured was an inmate in the building for a court date, firefighters said. It wasn't immediately clear how many inmates were there or where they were taken before it was clear the building wouldn't reopen.

In the meantime, hundreds of lawyers, court employees and others waited outside the building.

Mirasol Caramuna had traveled an hour from her Bronx home to pay a traffic ticket before she was ordered outside. Defense lawyer Robert B. Kronenberg raced up from the lobby by elevator to a smoky 16th floor to get a briefcase he'd left in a courtroom, then walked back down 16 flights to get out.

"It (the case) was a gift from my wife and children," he explained.

DETROIT Anita Baker's Friday began with the threat of jail hanging over her.

It ended with the Grammy-winning R&B singer exiting a Detroit courtroom, smiling and excited to get her weekend started.

What made the 52-year-old Grosse Pointe resident so happy was that she and her lawyers were able to reach an agreement with her ex-husband's attorney to create a process that eventually will decide how much Walter Bridgforth is owed in music royalties as part of the couple's divorce settlement.

"I'm so happy. ... I have never been in such a position before," Baker said in the hallway outside court. "And we don't intend to ever be in such a position ever again. I just wanna go home, and I'm happy to go home. ... As horrific as it could have been, it was lovely to feel supported, though, on the other end."

Baker, best-known for hits such as "Giving You the Best That I Got," faced a deadline of this past Wednesday to sign documents to empower court-appointed music contract expert Howard Hertz to seek information from the record companies on the amount owed to Bridgforth.

But when that deadline passed and Baker again didn't sign Thursday, Wayne County Chief Family Court Judge Lita Masini Popke ordered the singer back to court Friday to sign or be jailed.

On Thursday, Popke said Baker had been uncooperative, and the singer complained of being "muzzled."

At Friday's hearing, Baker rose to speak under oath, telling the judge it was a "very stressful situation" to have to review the documents under the threat of jail.

After a recess, Popke relented, saying: "I'm not going to hold you in contempt or send you to jail today."

The judge then instructed Baker, her lawyers, Bridgforth's attorney Hanley Gurwin and Hertz to work out language acceptable to all parties.

The sides retreated to the jury room and returned later to inform Popke that they had reached a deal.

The agreement calls for Hertz to report back to the court by late April on his dealings with the record companies.

Everyone seemed pleased with the outcome, even the judge.

"Miss Baker, I thank you for your cooperation," Popke said. "I apologize for the stress that this obviously put on you, but I think we've reached a very successful conclusion and can move forward."

The royalties in question would come from two albums released during Baker's marriage to Bridgforth, who wasn't in court Friday.

His lawyer, though, was relieved to have the matter behind him for now.

"It wasn't easy," Gurwin said. "Obviously, it took us two days to get this done. But we did get it done."

NEW AD CAMPAIGN!!! R&B SUPERSTAR ALICIA KEYS USES SEX APPEAL TO SELL HER NEW COMPUTER SOFTWARE . . . WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT IT DOES . . . BUT WE'RE READY TO BUY IT!!!

A CHEEKY arsonist who was caught with his trousers down after torching a gym is being hunted by police.

BET JOURNALIST TOURE SAID THAT HE AGREES WITH INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIPS . . . JUSTIFIES THE SLAVEMASTERS' RAPE OF BLACK WOMEN . . . CLAIMS IT GOT THEM 'LIBERATION'!!!

MediaTakeOut.com just got ahold of a BIZARRE rant that BET personality Toure did yesterday. Apparently dude caught himself halfway through and deleted the posts. But not before our peeps at Gawker managed to save the screenshots.

Toure later apologized and said he was just being "intellectually provocative" . . . sounds more like he was being an AZZ to us . . .