Gail Alexander
Starlite Group Limited (SGL) has made it clear that cones being used in its Diego Martin pharmacy’s car park are intended to ensure its parking spaces remain available for customers, particularly elderly persons and those with limited mobility who need convenient access to the pharmacy’s entrance.
This comes after Minister of Housing Phillip Alexander verbally attacked the establishment’s management and owner on Monday, calling for a “boycott” of the business.
Alexander, in a vitriol- and invective-laced outburst directed particularly at Starlite Group Ltd managing director Gerald Aboud, took issue with cones the establishment had placed in parking spaces reserved for pharmacy customers. He fumed about “De One Percent”.
Alexander said people were also visiting a gym on the compound, which rents space from Starlite Shopping Plaza (SGP). He claimed that when the drugstore closed, parking spaces were reserved for pharmacy customers and cones were placed in those spaces. Alexander declared that he would always be an activist, “…Government Minister or not!”
However, the management of Starlite Group Ltd, a tenant of SGP, defended the placement of the cones in its parking lot. The group issued a notice stating: “Following a video circulating on social media, we would like to clarify why cones are placed in certain parking spaces outside Starlite.”
“Gym patrons and workers from a nearby construction project have been using our customer parking, reducing the spaces available to those visiting the pharmacy. The cones help keep these spaces available for Starlite customers, particularly elderly customers and those with limited mobility who need convenient access to our entrance.”
Aboud also said: “I’d say that for a long time Phillip Edward Alexander has been disparaging people’s good name and reputation, as well as attacking minority groups and citizens in this country.”
He added: “I’d say that if Mr Alexander is to gain the trust of the people, he needs to start acting responsibly. I will also say to Phillip that there is no enemy out there, other than ‘the enemy within’.”
He said Alexander’s rant, because he had to walk a few extra steps to the gym, was disturbing and disgusting.
“And I’d say that right now, this country needs more unity if we are to overcome the challenges that face us,” he said.
Alexander’s actions have also drawn disapproval and backlash from Starlite customers, persons in the business sector and others.
Some criticised Alexander’s conduct and his role in Government, while also taking aim at the UNC administration over current national issues. Another described Alexander’s action as unprecedented and questioned the conduct of a UNC Government minister, who was “campaigning against a private enterprise over a parking space.”
