PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad CMC – Head of regional players union, West Indies Players Association (WIPA) Dinanath Ramnarine, will not be apologising to West Indies Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Ernest Hilaire.
In a letter to the WICB yesterday responding to an earlier request for an apology, WIPA said members were satisfied that Ramnarine did not engage in threatening behaviour as accused.
The WICB had written to WIPA earlier this week seeking an apology over an incident where Ramnarine is alleged to have threatened Dr Hilaire with a chair, during a stormy meeting in Jamaica last week.
“Unfortunately, the WIPA cannot facilitate the request … on the basis that our information of what transpired at the meeting (including written accounts of the events both from Vice President Mr. Wavell Hinds and Mr Christopher Gayle) does not support the WICB’s allegation of threatening behaviour,” WIPA secretary Andrew Richardson wrote.
In its letter to WIPA, the WICB had called on Ramnarine to apologise for his threatening behaviour and also asked for an assurance from the players union that Ramnarine would desist from “any physical or verbal threats” during future meetings.
If this could not be done, the Board asked WIPA to identify an alternate who would represent the union at future discussions.
However, WIPA said yesterday they believed they should be free to choose their representatives.
“With regard to us identifying alternative representatives, it is our already stated position that we ought not be restricted with regard to who from among our membership represents us, a position we feel is eminently reasonable,” the letter noted.
WIPA has agreed to the WICB’s request to meet to discuss the status of the existing relationship between the two bodies, and has suggested that the meeting take place within the next seven days.