Justice for Shem: Supporters of extradited T&T sport administrator claim legal double standards

“[…] Shem Alexander, who remains in pre-trial detention in Florida, was arrested in Jamaica and extradited in November 2024—despite being cleared locally after a 15-month police investigation and without the indictment ever being shared with Trinidadian authorities.

“Former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s own public mention of being listed in an Interpol Red Notice is potentially evidence of growing abuses of international enforcement tools…”

The following statement from the Justice and Freedom for Shem campaign, chaired by Collete Alexander, points to perceived procedural irregularities in the extradition of Trinidad and Tobago sport administrator and football coach Shem Wayne Alexander:

The troubling extradition of Trinidad and Tobago citizen Shem Wayne Alexander to the United States, for the Justice and Freedom for Shem campaign team, is one of serious procedural breaches, diplomatic failures and legal double standards.

Alexander, who remains in pre-trial detention in Florida, was arrested in Jamaica and extradited in November 2024—despite being cleared locally after a 15-month police investigation and without the indictment ever being shared with Trinidadian authorities.

According to official documents, the US government sent a diplomatic note to Jamaica without including any supporting evidence. Even more alarming, the indictment against Alexander remained sealed until January 2025, weeks after his arrest and transfer.

Based on our checks, this irregularity undermined international legal norms and bypassed the sovereignty of Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2021, Alexander’s home was raided by local authorities on instruction from US agencies. No weapons or contraband were found, and he was never charged in Trinidad.

Despite this, he was arrested in Jamaica under questionable conditions, held for 35 days in a prison notorious for inhumane conditions, and extradited in a manner experts describe as ‘rendition-style’.

Family members and legal advocates are demanding accountability.

“It is very unfortunate what Shem has had to endure in the inhumane Jamaican prison system and the lack of protection of his rights under international law,” said Wayne Alexander, Shem’s father. “We are praying for a speedy resolution and for the US government to return my son.”

The injustice becomes even clearer when comparing Alexander’s case to that of Videsh Chandoo, another Trinidadian linked to a US gun case.

Chandoo, who holds dual US-Trinidadian citizenship, admitted to shipping seven firearms and 332 rounds of ammunition to Trinidad. He was allowed to voluntarily travel to the US, received full access to evidence, and negotiated a plea deal resulting in an 18-month sentence.

Here’s how the two cases stack up:

• Citizenship: Chandoo (dual citizen), Alexander (Trinidadian only);
• Evidence: Chandoo (physical weapons), Alexander (no physical evidence);
• Indictment: Chandoo (public before arrest), Alexander (sealed even after extradition);
• Arrest: Chandoo (voluntary), Alexander (forcibly arrested in Jamaica);
• Legal Access: Chandoo (negotiated plea with evidence), Alexander (missing disclosures);
• Outcome: Chandoo (18 months), Alexander (facing decades).

These stark disparities have led to questions of diplomatic negligence and unequal treatment. Former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s own public mention of being listed in an Interpol Red Notice is potentially evidence of growing abuses of international enforcement tools.

With Alexander’s case still pending, the Justice and Freedom for Shem campaign urges the current government to step in and protect its own citizen—in the face of serious irregularities in extradition and foreign prosecution proceedings.

We call for a formal inquiry into the diplomatic decisions that led to Alexander’s extradition, along with a full investigation into whether constitutional protections were bypassed.

Supporters are also demanding stronger safeguards for citizens subject to foreign prosecutions.

Advocates representing Shem Wayne Alexander have raised additional concerns that highlight the urgent need for government intervention. These issues go beyond the US case and center on diplomatic and legal failures by regional authorities:

• Mr Alexander was extradited from Jamaica without any notification to or involvement by the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
• The extradition was triggered by a diplomatic note that reportedly lacked an evidence package and contained discrepancies with the sealed US indictment.
• In 2021, a 15-month investigation by the TTPS, SIU, and the DPP’s Office cleared Mr Alexander of any wrongdoing (according to the evidence package presented to Mr Alexander’s legal team)—yet he was later detained abroad.
• There are concerns about the inhumane conditions he endured while in Jamaican custody prior to extradition.
• Other Trinidadians facing similar US charges were treated under more transparent and consistent diplomatic protocols.

Given these troubling developments, legal advocates and supporters are urging the current government of Trinidad and Tobago to:

• Launch an independent inquiry into the extradition process.
• Review how Interpol Red Notices are handled.
• Clarify how the state protects its citizens in transnational legal matters.

Importantly, it must be noted that US defense attorneys do not have standing to challenge procedural violations related to extradition or the misuse of Interpol Red Notices.

These matters fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the government of Trinidad and Tobago, which must act swiftly to protect its citizens’ due process rights and national sovereignty in international legal matters.

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