Franklyn Rose claims he faced racial injustice in New Zealand

Deported Franklyn Rose, the former West Indies pacer, claims to have faced racial injustice in New Zealand, where he had undertaken a coaching assignment.

Rose, who came to Auckland in 2011 to play for the University club, did not have a valid visa and was deported this month after spending time in Mt Eden prison.

Recently, about eight weeks ago, the police dragged him out of his house informing him that he was under investigation for a rape case leaving him in shock. He spent 38 days in prison before being sent to Jamaica, he says he is disappointed with the New Zealand immigration system.

On returning home, the 44-year-old said he was desperate to tell his side of the story and used the West Indies Players Association as a platform to do that.

Rose opened up about his experience to the West Indies Players Association on Monday (April 18).

“I need to let people know what really happened. I am disappointed in the New Zealand immigration system. I am very disappointed,” Rose was quoted as saying in ‘Jamaica Observer’. “I want people to understand my side of the story, to set the record straight.”

When Rose was offered a job at the Auckland University Cricket Club, he was granted a work visa which hasn’t been valid since 2012.

He claimed that it was in 2012 that he first faced a racial attack in Takapuna where he says four white men made a violent attempt to steal his car.

“They beat me down. One (guy) missed my head and chopped me on the hand,” said Rose.

Consequently, he spent three days in the hospital where he claims that he wasn’t mistreated by the staff.

“The nurses kicked me out; (they) said they needed to care for other patients. After a day, my friend had to take me back to the hospital. I was having some serious pains. The doctors told me I had a blood clot in my lungs and I had nerve damage in my hand.”

Rose, who played 19 tests and 27 One-Day Internationals, reported the assault to the police subsequently but no action was taken. Instead, he was questioned about his immigration status, asked to produce medical documents and to report to the police station once a week.

The nightmare didn’t end as Rose’s treatment and various health conditions prevented him from leaving the country, forcing him to stay in New Zealand for another two years.

“I was prescribed very strong medication, warfarin. That’s a blood thinner,” he recalled.”I also had internal bleeding in my brain; that meant more hospital fees and medication, and I was advised by the doctors that I could not travel by air.”