BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CRICKTERS Runako Morton and Tonito Willett have been released on TT$100 000 bail each from the Remand Yard Prison in Trinidad after being arrested for possession of marijuana in Port-of-Spain on Saturday (Mar. 12).
Just two days after their release, the two men are expected to return today (Mar. 17) to a Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court to be told of their faith.
According to reports coming out of Trinidad, the TT$100 000 bail had to be approved by the Clerk of the Peace, but Magistrate Debby-Ann Bassaw alternatively ordered that the men pay a cash bail of TT$20 000, which was agreed to and paid by the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).
The WIPA is the representative body for cricketers in the Caribbean, and this media house was informed that the association would also provide legal assistance to Morton and Willett.
“The WIPA has been in close contact with their families and both men have expressed deep regret for the unfortunate incident and the embarrassment and hurt it has caused their teammates, their country, their families and cricket fans throughout the world and they hope that their remorse would not prejudice them in the determination of this matter,” said WIPA’s President and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine.
In an article carried on ESPNcricinfo, Ramnarine went on to say that the “WIPA is committed to ensuring that the players are provided with the necessary support throughout this process. In this instance, WIPA has today, taken the responsibility of ensuring that both players are afforded the necessary legal representation required in this matter.”
Morton and Willett, both Nevisians, were charged along with Trinidadians Nicole Branch and Janelle Thomas. Reports out of T&T confirmed that the four were arrested by North Eastern Division Task Force officers while driving along Lady Young Road, Morvant early Saturday morning. It is alleged that they were held with 407 grammes of marijuana, with an estimated street value of TT$4 070.
Interestingly, over the years, Morton, who also played for the West Indies, has had a checkered career which included being expelled from the West Indies Academy in 2001. He had pulled out of the 2002 Champions Trophy after lying about his grandmother’s death and, most recently, he was fined 35 percent of his match fee following the Trinidad & Tobago vs. Windward Islands WICB Regional Four-Day match at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.
Willet, on the other hand, at age 28 has not earned international honours during his 11-year first class career, and many of his fans had hoped that this year’s tournament would have seen him donning the West Indies colours as an all-rounder.
Meanwhile, the WIPA has issued a statement saying that it would have to give more education to cricketers in the region about the dangers of using illegal drugs.
In a brief comment, Trinidad's captain Darren Ganga said the incident was a lesson for West Indies cricketers.
