BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has withdrawn the matter against cricketer Steve Liburd, who had three charges laid against him for an incident involving Minister of Sports Hon. Glenn Phillip.
The case was withdrawn on Monday (Mar. 24) at the Basseterre Magistrate Court following a statement made by the Sports Minister.
SKNVibes understands that Liburd was charged in relation to an incident between him and Phillip, which occurred while the cricketer was attending a training camp in St. Kitts hosted by Leeward Islands Cricket Association in preparation for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board tournaments.
On Thursday (Jan. 23), while Minister Phillip was being introduced to some of the players, it is believed that he and Liburd were involved in a verbal disagreement.
Liburd was escorted into the dressing room by one of his teammates in an effort to keep him out of further trouble.
Minister Phillip then lodged a complaint to the management of the Leeward Islands Camp and the police, and the following day Liburd went to the Basseterre Police Station where there were three warrants for his arrest.
Liburd was charged with Assault, Threatening Language and Armed with an Offensive Weapon. He was consequently suspended from the Camp.
Speaking with this publication, Liburd's Attorney Sen. Vincent Byron said he and his client had appeared at the Court on two previous occasions but did not have the matter heard.
He said on Monday (Mar. 24), DPP Travers Sinanan told the Court that his office had conduct of the matter and requested the Court's indulgence for a statement be made by the Sports Minister.
Byron claimed that the Minister stated he would not be pursuing the matter any further, as he did not want to jeopardise Liburd's career.
He explained that as a result, the DPP told the Court that the matter would be Nolle Prose.
Byron emphasised that the incident was minor in nature and was blown out of proportion, adding that Liburd had suffered financial losses due to being suspended from the Camp.
The attorney claimed that the cricketer suffered some US$6 000 in losses due to the fact that he was unable to participate in the matches played following the Camp, because the Cricket Association had not considered him to play with criminal charges against him.
Since then, Liburd had issued a statement informing that the past two months have been difficult for him as a result of the charges.
"Now that these criminal charges have been withdrawn, I expect to be in touch with my agent in the very near future.
"However, I place my obligation to my country above my plans for England and it would be my preference if I had to choose to make myself available for selection to the St. Kitts Cricket Senior Team, the Leeward Islands Senior Cricket Team, and the West Indies Senior Cricket Team.
"I would be proud to be the first native Kittitian to be selected to play for the West Indies Cricket Team, and that has always been my dream," he said in his release.
When contacted, Liburd told SKNVibes that he would not be saying anything beyond what was stated in his press release.
Attempts to contact the Sports Minister for a comment were unsuccessful.
Liburd, a former West Indies Under-15 player, had captained both the St. Kitts and Leeward Islands Cricket Teams.
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