KINGSTON, Jamaica: Andre Fletcher, the West Indies and Windward Islands wicketkeeper-batsman, who was fined EC$ 2000 (US$ 740) by a Dominica court for possession of ammunition, has labelled the incident as a “genuine misunderstanding” on his part.
Fletcher, 27, was in Dominica practising with the Windward Islands team and was about to leave the country when he was arrested last month. However, Fletcher said in a statement that while he accepted full responsibility for the incident, he had “no idea” that the package in his possession was actually .22 ammunition instead of .22 pellets for the registered hunting air rifle he owns.
“When I obtained the package it was sealed. Having been told that the package contained air rifle pellets, without closely inspecting it further I assumed that the contents were indeed what I was told,” Fletcher said. “Until it was brought to my attention at the airport, I had no inkling that the package contained live ammunition.”
“I carried the package openly in my hand to and through the airport and subsequently loosely placed it in my carry-on bag as I sought to clear security at the Douglas Charles Airport in Dominica.
“During the normal inspection of my luggage, the customs officer in Dominica informed me that the items appeared to be .22 calibre live rounds and not .22 pellets. Upon further investigation of the package, it was indeed found that the contents were live .22 calibre rounds and not .22 pellets for air rifles.”
Fletcher has played 15 ODIs and 22 T20Is for West Indies, and last represented the team in January. He said that he would not let “the unfortunate incident” compromise his career.
“The unfortunate incident which led to my detention in Dominica on May 28 will not deter me from continuing to represent the region or my country once given the opportunity to do so,” he said. “I will never intentionally do
anything to cause hurt or embarrassment to my nation, my fans or especially my family.”