‘I eh trust nobody...’

CONTROVERSIAL Central businessman Selwyn Alexis, alias “Robocop” yesterday gave the reason he walked out the Port-of-Spain General Hospital after an attempt on his life — “I eh trust nobody.” Robocop, 38, made the statement to Newsday at his Mayers Street, Enterprise Village home in Chaguanas yesterday evening, where he was relaxing with a gunshot wound under his right arm and left leg. “The fact is God protected me and will continue to protect me because those who tried to kill me are part of the system. I will not hide. I have said it before and will say it again, certain corrupt police officers and businessmen are behind the hit because they want to shut me up. “I know a lot about their operations and for this they want me killed. But I trust in God and will not stay in the hospital where I can be an open target.”

According to reports, after dropping off a friend on Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook at around 12.30 am yesterday, Alexis was walking back to his car, parked on Murray Street. While waving to the friend, a car pulled up and one of its occupants sitting in the front passenger seat pulled out a gun and started firing at the him. The  father of four fell to the ground and the car drove off. The injured man then jumped in his car and started driving around in search of his shooter when he came upon an E-999 patrol who took him to the hospital and his car to the St James Police Station where it remains with bullet holes. “While I cannot say who are the crooks, I am sure police was involved, because while I was being taken to the hospital, information came across the wireless that I was in my car shooting at police.

The officers had to quickly send a message and say that I was not in the car, but it was police driving it. “I believe it was a set up and I was supposed to be in the car when they got that report and I would have been killed in an alleged shootout. “For years I have been accused of several crimes and this has been the third attempt on my life, but all have failed because I pray to God. I am an honest businessman and will continue to pray for God’s protection. “I have tried many times to speak to several senior police, military and Government officials and they have all refused, simply because I am not a Syrian or Chinese or some big money-broker.

I went to England for three months this year during which time there were 18 kidnappings, yet no one ever bothered to say Robo was not involved. “I came back because people were saying I was running, so I came to show them I was not.” Both windscreens of the bullet-ridden car were smashed. And police seized ten bullet shells at the scene of the shooting. “The only reason I was not killed is because of God,” a relaxed Robocop said. However, Alexis scoffed at any allegations of revenge. While claiming as a Muslim it was his right to take revenge, he said the only way he could take revenge was if he knew who tried to kill him and while he knew the groups that wanted him dead, he did not know which individual or individuals were behind the hit.