Premier Parry mourns the death of cricketer Runako Morton

Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry

Mr. Runako Morton

Charlestown Nevis (Monday, March 5, 2012) — Premier of Nevis the Hon Joseph Parry has expressed shock and disbelief upon learning about the death of Nevisian cricketer, Runako Shakur Morton. The former West Indies batsman, 33, died in a road accident in Trinidad on Sunday night.

“On behalf of my Government, the people of Nevis and on my own behalf I send deepest condolences to the family of the late Runako, his wife, mother Annette and sister Midge,” said the Premier. “The Nevis cricketing community has lost one of its most illustrious players and as a former President of the Nevis Cricket Association I join them in mourning the passing of Runako.”

Premier Parry has described the late Morton as a great Caribbean man, who decided to seek fortunes in the region by moving to Trinidad which he made his second home. He observed that the cricketer he was, Runako could have moved to Britain or even Australia where cricket is played and where his skills would have been required, but he chose to remain with his Caribbean people.

A right-handed batsman and a right-handed off break bowler, Runako Morton is among the several Nevisians who have played test cricket at the international stage. He had played 15 Tests, 56 One Day Internationals and seven Twenty20s for the West Indies team, his last appearance being a Twenty20 International in 2010 against Australia.

“Though no longer on the West Indies team, his love for cricket never diminished, and according to information that has reached me, his car crashed while on his way home from a cricket match. The loss will be too hard to take for us in St. Kitts-Nevis and especially Nevis, where we saw him rise to be the great cricketer he was. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” concluded the Premier.