by Khaila Gentle
BELMOPAN, Mon. Aug. 15, 2022
On the morning of August 11, Pastor Louis Wade, during Plus TV’s Rise and Shine morning show, apologized for the offence caused by the “unfortunate interpretation” of comments he made on July 26.
“We seek to apologize to those who found offense with my comments,” said Wade.
The Plus TV host also stated that the comments he made on the Rise and Shine show in July were not intended “as a reference to a gender” nor were they intended “to be understood as a derogatory or disrespectful meaning to genitalia of a woman.”
“I apologized on July 28, 2022 for the unfortunate interpretation, which was not intended nor premeditated and is truly regrettable,” he added.
On that same day, both the Belize Broadcasting Authority (BBA) and the Women Parliamentarians Caucus acknowledged Wade’s apology, with the BBA writing a letter to the interim chair of the Caucus, Hon. Valerie Woods, thanking them for bringing attention the “questionable language” used by Wade.
“He has assured the BBA Board that he in no way made those comments with the intent to be demeaning and to inflict any harm whatsoever. His word choice was cause for public concern; as a consequence, Mr. Wade has retracted said comments and has given a formal
apology,” wrote BBA chairman, Evan Tench.
In response to that letter, as well as Wade’s statement, Hon. Valerie Woods said that it is a step in the right direction. The Speaker of the House of Representatives thanked the BBA and Plus TV for addressing the issue.
“There will always be those who don’t get it, who don’t agree that this should have been taken on or don’t consider the importance and impact of language. The hope is to increase the numbers who do,” she said.
On Friday, August 12, the National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) issued a press statement expressing support for Pastor Wade and referring to the public demand for accountability from him as a part of “recent efforts to completely mischaracterize him for various ulterior agendas.”
In the release, the NEAB states that “after two separate explanations, clarifications, and apologies from Pastor Wade, the persistent untrue attacks raise severe questions as to ulterior motives of some of those seeking to vilify and discredit him.”
“We affirm Pastor Louis Wade, Jr. as a man of God and urge all Belizeans to use discernment concerning whatever motives of those who persist in wrongfully attacking him,” added the NEAB.