Dear Friends,
You may be aware, over the last two years I have co-hosted a daily talk show host in Belize called “Rise and Shine” on PlusTV. Rise and Shine is now the number one talk show in Belize with full national coverage, having the largest following. PlusTV is a conservative, Judeo-Christian media house, yet there is no other station that entertains as many varying opinions and views on the widest assortment of topics.
It is a privilege to sit with individuals from all backgrounds and from every seat of influence. Above all, it is a blessing to be a voice for the voiceless, the poor and needy. This is not always easy as oppressors do not like being challenged. For example, a few months ago we were told that a powerful business man in the southern part of Belize was paying hundreds of it workers below minimum wage. We took the information and exposed it on Rise and Shine. It was a tense time for us, with various threats involved, but again I believe it is my responsibility to speak out against injustice and corruption. The situation was eventually corrected and hard workers now receive fair payment for their labor.
For the last two years, at Christmas our government takes millions of tax payers dollars and gives area representatives authority to distribute it to the poor and needy with few, if any restrictions or checks and balances. There is no accountability to where the money goes. I have spoken openly about the initiative and mentioned that the procedure would only facilitate corruption. I have mentioned that we have many well trusted and established charity groups through out the nation that those funds could be channeled through.
Well, if you know anything about politics in a developing country you know that our representatives feel like no one is able to challenge them and that they are above the law.
This week we found out that a government minister is suing PlusTV, my co-host Pastor Louis Wade and myself. This is the price we pay for speaking against injustice and corruption. The public response has been amazing and we know this will backfire on the minister himself.
However, we need your prayers as this minister has a reputation of being a very corrupt person. Presently he is under investigation for mismanagement, but when you live in a country where there is no separation of the Executive, Legislative or Judiciary nothing ever comes out of those investigations.
We ask that you please keep us in your prayers for protection over our families and for wisdom for myself and Pastor Wade as we move forward.
Much thanks,
Patrick Jason and Sara Andrews
