Gateway director and fast-rising administrator, Shem Alexander, held for “firearm trafficking”

The Jamaica Constabulary Force confirmed today that Trinidad and Tobago national and burgeoning sport official Shem Alexander is in its custody and awaiting extradition to the United States, in a development which has shocked the local football fraternity.

The 35-year-old Alexander, who has a major in organisation communications and a minor in psychology from the Palm Beach Atlantic University, is the MIC-IT sports and mentorship coordinator and director of Gateway Athletics football club.

MIC Matura ReUnited head coach Shem Alexander.

He is also a patron of TTPFL Tier One club Central FC, head coach of Tier Two team MIC Matura ReUnited and head coach of the Hillview College Under-14 team.

Gateway Athletic has run the last three editions of the Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL).


In June, Alexander also launched the International Institute of Sports and Management Studies (IISMS) alongside fellow director Gary St Rose, who is a TTFA safeguarding manager.

The IISMS stated its goal as creating opportunities “for the future of sports management and coaching”. In its maiden act, the fledgling company presented certificates to then Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve and his assistant Derek King, who it described as “two of our first cohort graduates”.

Pro Series director and coach Paul Decle (left) is congratulated by Gateway Athletic director Shem Alexander after claiming the Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL) Under-17 title in 2024.
Photo: 12 Media Productions

Beyond his multiple sporting roles, United States law officials believe that Alexander was also involved in firearm trafficking into the North American country.

Jamaican Senior Superintendent of Police Stephanie Lindsay confirmed that Alexander has been in their custody for the past two weeks.

Alexander is believed to have visited Jamaica to meet his girlfriend, who is studying there.

“He was taken in on the 15th November, based on an extradition request from the USA,” Lindsay told Wired868. “He has waived his rights to a hearing and opted to be extradited [to face] allegations of firearm trafficking and smuggling offenses in the USA.”

Gateway Athletics managing director Shem Alexander.
Photo: 12 Media Productions

Gateway Athletics became the first organisation aligned to Alexander to make a statement on his arrest, which was attributed to the Gateway Athletics Public Relations Team.

Gateway Athletics Statement:

Mr Alexander has taken a voluntary leave of absence as the managing director at Gateway Athletics, in order to focus on treating the allegations before him.

Mr Alexander has maintained his innocence in all of the allegations levelled against him and is eager to fully ventilate the issue in the right forum, when the time is appropriate.

MIC Matura ReUnited head coach Shem Alexander (left) makes a point to a player.
Photo: MIC Matura ReUnited

The same natural justice that applies to all also applies to Mr Alexander—that is, the presumption of innocence until otherwise proven.

There is no further information we can give at this time, but we will update as necessary as information becomes available.

Editor’s Note: TTFA president Kieron Edwards is not a director at Central FC, having resigned the post before the football election. As such, there is no overlap between his formal involvement with the club and Shem Alexander’s.

More from Wired868
SSFL 26: Signal Hill held by St Anthony’s; CIC, “Naps” and Benedict’s win; Hillview thump Trinity

Signal Hill Secondary stuttered in Westmoorings today in the only surprise of the round, as the favourites generally did the Read more

Dear Editor: On what grounds is Romain still supervising minors? And what does that say about Safeguarding process?

“[…] Mr Gary St Rose himself acknowledges that the investigations are not complete. So what exactly formed the basis of Read more

St Rose: Safeguarding “comfortable” with Romain, despite National U-15 manager facing two unresolved complaints

Trinidad and Tobago Boys’ National Under-15 Team manager Adrian Romain has been cleared to continue his duties with the national Read more

Dear Editor: 19 months without a verdict on Cooper case is a Safeguarding travesty

“[…] The TTFA’s published Safeguarding Policy and Framework (version 3.0) says the TTFA ‘shall’ impose conditions on a licence whenever Read more

SSFL 26: Hillview sack coach after 8 games; McMeo leaves newly promoted school in ninth place

Hillview College have fired head coach Jeremy McMeo, midway through the 2026 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) SporTT Premiership Division Read more

Dear Editor: Mr St Rose, safeguarding is not a shield against accountability; who protects children from failures within system?

“[…] Mr St Gary Rose speaks extensively about what complainants are not entitled to demand. Yet he provides considerably less Read more

Check Also

SSFL 26: Signal Hill held by St Anthony’s; CIC, “Naps” and Benedict’s win; Hillview thump Trinity

Signal Hill Secondary stuttered in Westmoorings today in the only surprise of the round, as …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.