In a shocking episode, a West Indies cricketer who is also part of the national men’s team has been accused of sexual harassment in Guyana. According to SportsMax TV, ‘several’ victims are claiming an alleged cover-up to protect the victims, with an investigation currently underway in the matter.
Nigel Hughes, the lawyer engaged by the family of one of the alleged victims, spoke to SportsMax TV to give details of the investigation.
He said, “I think you have highlighted that it is a matter of some significant sensitivity. The allegations that were leveled by the victim were leveled 2 years ago, and an investigation was conducted, and we understand that they were recommendations from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to institute charges. You will recall the very famous Test match, which the West Indies won in Australia, occurred at the same time, and the suspect returned together and we have heard nothing since," Hughes said.
He added,“My firm was initially contacted about 2 years ago and then of course, with the more recent allegations, inquiries were made literally yesterday and the day before about what the status of my client’s complaint was and we have not been able to obtain any significant information,".
West Indies cricketer accused of sexual assault
One of teh victims famnily memeber while speaking exclusively with Kaieteur News, has claimed that law enforcement authorities are trying to suppress and cover up the incident, which allegedly occurred on March 3, 2023, at a residence in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
She revealed that, the accused was familiar to the family and had earned the trust of her daughter.
Describing the incident she stated that On the day of the incident, the cricketer reportedly picked the young woman up from her workplace under the pretense of socializing.
She recounted ,“She called me and said, ‘Mom, I’m going out with (name provided), I’ll be home by a certain time.’ He took her to a house in (area provided) where several men were seen hanging out in the yard. She said after seeing other people there, she felt safe. But then he asked her to come upstairs to get something. That’s when it happened,”.
The mother alleged that once inside the house, the cricketer forcibly removed the young woman’s clothing and sexually assaulted her.
“He ripped off her pants, held her down, and did what he wanted. My child has not been the same since. She’s been broken ever since that day,” she said through tears.
Cricket West Indies' response to the report
The incident was brought to light by the Guyanese newspaper Kaieteur. The report claimed that no fewer than eleven women with one of them a teenagaer accused the cricketer of sexual assault, rape or unwanted sexual advances.
SportsMax TV said it reached out to Cricket West Indies (CWI) over the serious accusations and asked them if they are aware of the allegations, and what actions they had taken.
CWI President Kishore Shallow speaking to the media house said, “Cricket West Indies is unaware of the circumstances and, therefore, is not in a position to comment at this time,".
The West Indies men are currently playing a three-Test series against Australia, the first of which is currently on in Barbados.
