LIKE query with parameter binding

Using parametr binding with LIKE query returns an empty result set,even if the match should succeed.

Example : SELECT * FROM /people WHERE name LIKE 'alex%'

returns all People whose name start with alex

doing this :

SELECT * FROM /people WHERE name LIKE '$1'

execute(new Object[]{'alex%'})

returns an empty set

gemfire server version is: 7.0.0.2