Plus TV responds to pending lawsuit

Posted by staff on April 10th, 2013 Posted in Government, Politics

PlusTV, operating out of Belmopan is being sued by Hon. John Saldivar, the Area Representative of Belmopan in Claim 175 of 2003 in the Supreme Court. The case surrounds comments expressed by one of the hosts Patrick Jason Andrews on January 10th, earlier this year in an interview with Minister Patrick Faber. In that interview, Host Andrews was asked his opinion on the pre-election Christmas Pro-Poor Program Distribution, which he gave. On Rise and Shine Wednesday morning, Director of PlusTV, Louis Wade, stated Plus TV’s position as it pertains to media in Belize.

Louis Wade – Director of PlusTV:
I want to speak on behalf of Plus TV, not as the Host of Rise and Shine, but as the co-owner of Plus TV with my wife.  And it’s very important for people to understand that Plus TV, which is eight years old, is not affiliated and has no intention of being affiliated with any political party, neither the UDP nor the PUP, not any third party.  We have absolutely no business interest, that has any shares of affiliation with Plus TV.  I want to say that their is no religious denomination that controls either directly or indirectly anything as it relates to Plus TV. And there is also no social group, or NGO that operates or has any say.  So we are in every sense of the word free media in Belize, because there are no political, nor religious, nor business entitirs, nor social entities, that have either direct or indirect strings attached to Plus TV

Wade says that despite the current lawsuit, Plus TV’s Director and Co-owner, Louis Wade made a firm commitment to his viewers and Belize to continue the unveiling of corruption within the country.

Louis Wade – Director of PlusTV:
We are committed to the fight against corruption on the country of Belize.  Plus TV is committed to fight against corruption.  However we have been doing it in a very slow way.  In other words, Plus TV has received many evidence and complaints about corruption.  And so in our fight against corruption, this is going to continue.  So it is going to increase and increase and increase, where we expose corruption.  We don’t care which political party is in power.  
Secondly, Plus TV is committed to neutrality, political neutrality.  Plus TV believes firmly that the best way we as a media house can contribute to the current media environment, and the state of our nation, is to remain committed to neutrality.  We believe fundamentally that one of the purposes of this lawsuit is to try to move Plus TV from a position of neutrality, and to move into a particular political party, either by currying favor with the UDP so that they remove the lawsuit, or that we rush to the PUP, so that the UDP is able to say “See dey.  Dem a di PUP all along.” We reject this attempt to try to put us in a political corner, and a commitment to the nation of Belize that before, during, and after this fiasco, we will continue to provide a neutrally ballanced and objective viewpoint as Plus TV

Wade says that believes that the lawsuit is an attempt to stifle freedom of speech and to muzzle independent press in Belize.

Copied from http://www.plustvbelize.com/news/5506httpwww-plustvbelize-comnews/

"People Power"

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

Mommy scorpion with at least 40 babies!

Judah and I were going through a box in storage and found this mommy scorpion with at least 40 babies on her back!!! *shiver*

Andrews Update

Hi again friends! Below is a brief report on how Legacy went last weekend and a snippet of what's going on at Destiny House.  Thank you so much for praying and believing with us.  You're gonna want to read this, it's very exciting to see God interacting with this generation of youth! Legacy Makers James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Small groups are always our favorite time during Legacy.  We find that our youth want someone to LISTEN to them, not just hear them.  A young man told me that his mom found out her husband was cheating on her.  A couple days later he walk into her room to find her hanging from a rope.  Trying to save her, she said, "leave me, I want to die!"   Little did that mom know that the young man has been cutting himself because he does not want to live either.  THIS is only one of many reason why we do what we do.  To listen with God's heart and speak a word of hope and life to one individual.  All the work is worth it, the long nights and endless days just to be able to touch one.  Thanks be to God for His wisdom and grace as we continue walking with these Legacy Makers!! Do you want to donate now toward our ministry online?  You can through Paypal Donate Online The $50 Winner of Open Mic Night at YWAM Belmopan's Destiny House Just hanging out at Destiny House! Please pray for this vital ministry, that God would give us wisdom, resources and helpers to create a wonderful place for our youth to hang out.  "We close when the last person leaves". Facebook Twitter Website Copyright © 2013 Youth With A Mission Belmopan, All rights reserved. We are sending out these periodic emails to friends of our family only! Our mailing address is: Youth With A Mission Belmopan Box 311 Belmopan Belize

Pray for Keilah

Good morning friends,

Tomorrow Keilah, and all other kids her age countrywide will be sitting part 1 of PSE (Primary School Examination). This is the standard test to determine if they can continue on to high school. We have no doubt that Keilah will pass with flying colors but sadly many will not. Recent reports are that nearly half of the students who take the test do not pass (and I believe passing grade is 50%)?!

Please pray for Keilah and the other students. Keilah is trying not to feel nervous and gives herself pep talks throughout the day but there are still some butterflies in her tummy! The exam will start at 8:00am Central Standard Time and last until 1:45.

Keilah also is fighting a cold right now! So we are asking you to join us in prayer. Thanks so much friends!

LEGACY kicked off last night with POWER!  Andrews Willis from Houston, brought the house DOWN!  Please keep praying for the youth this weekend at Legacy.  Jason posted a message this morning about small groups:

"Small groups - our youth want some one to listen to them.  A youth told me, his mom found out her husband was cheating on her.  A couple days later he walk into mom's room to find her hanging from a rope.  Trying to save her, she said 'leave me I want to die.'  Little did that mom know that the youth has been cutting himself because he does not want to live either.  This is only one of many reason why I do what I do.  To be able to speak a word of hope and life to one individual.  All the work was worth it, just to be able to touch one.  Thanks be to God!!"

Please friends, this is real stuff we are dealing with.  Please pray.  There is nowhere else we would rather be than right here with these youth, finding God together in the midst of the hell they are walking through.

Surrender.

"Touching the Future"

The youth of our Nation need to be empowered with keys and tools on how to create jobs, how to create employment for themselves while living in a country with 23% unemployment and over 46% living in poverty.  So many young people are sitting at home with a Associates or Bachelor degree, waiting until they can get a job with the government (only to lose it 4 years later).  It has been scientifically proven that small business are the engine to any thriving economy.  Our prayer for this event was to inspire or encourage youth into entrepreneurship - just maybe we could light a spark that would bring forth a thriving economy.

After the event, Patrick E Jones, a respected Belizean reporter said, “A very successful youth entrepreneurship workshop was held on Saturday at the UB auditorium in capital city, Belmopan.  Over two hundred young people from all over the country attended. Congratulations to the organizers of the event.  You have undoubtedly touched the future ... and the future looks bright!!”

We want to say a big thanks for praying for and supporting this great initiative “Energizing Youth Entrepreneur Workshop.”  We had over 250 young people from all six districts. The reports we have received have been encouraging.  Individuals walked away with keys, tools and ideas to implement into their own small businesses.  With such high unemployment in our district you could sense that the participants were hungry for information.  The REAL questions they asked seemed to come from a place of desperation and hope.  Many people have asked if we would take the event to other districts but my hope is that other individuals will rise up in those places to do the same thing.

Thank you for your continued prayers for the beautiful, wise people of our nation.  We love you Belize, and we are standing beside you.