MONROVIA – Madam Estelle Brumskine, mother of Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine who was picked last Saturday by the Political Leader and Standard Bearer of the Collaborating Political Party (CPP), could hardly control her emotions as she watched and participated in ceremonies cementing a new nobler feat of her daughter. She was given time to make a statement during the ceremonies and all that she said was dominated by fond reflections: family’s innate brilliancy, late Charles Walker Brumskine’s eminency, Charlyne’s audacious academic feats, and Liberty Party and CPP’s qualified preference and coronation of her daughter. As The Analyst reports, the Brumskine widow nearly shed tears as she dedicated the occasion, including the lifting of her daughter to a higher layer of Liberia’s political arena, to the people of Grand Bassa County.
Of all happy people at ceremonies marking the announcement by the Collaborating Political Party and its Standard Bearer of Cllr Charlyne Brumskine as Vice Standard Bearer of the party was the mother of the Chief Celebrant.
A proud Liberian mother was proudly watching her first child ascend to a high echelon of Liberian politics, as hundreds of Liberians, including citizens of Grand Bassa County, political bigwigs from the nation’s capital, and dozens of partisans elatedly looked on.
Commencing her emotions-adorned remarks, she growled: “Today, I stand before you, a proud mother, a proud Bassonian and a proud Liberian! I also stand here with mixed feelings – joy and sadness, sadness because Charlyne’s father the late Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine – who had such a tremendous impact and influence in her life – is not physically with us today. However, I feel his presence, and I know he is looking down at us and is saying to Charlyne, or Miah (as he affectionally called her) I am so proud of you – Carry on with the vision to bring change and improve the lives of Liberians!
“Thank you Bassaland, for presenting your daughter and mother, Charlyne Mnamah-mar Brumskine, to Mr. Alexander B. Cummings, to be his running mate for the October 2023 presidential race! Thank you for presenting GBOSAYDYU… THE CHILD BRUMSKINE LEFT WITH US!!”
She continued: “I can assure you that Charlyne Mnamah-mah will make Bassonians proud, and not only Bassonions, but also every Liberian in every county, in every part of our country. She is someone whose dream in life is to be of help and to make a difference!”
Mrs. Estelle Brumskine the widow of the late Cllr Charles Walker Brumskine – founding father of the Liberty Party which is a constituent member of the CPP.
As the mother of Liberty Party, she said: “I am very pleased that the daughter of the founding father of Liberty Party is representing our party at the national level. I am sure her father Charles would have been very pleased. I remember the years of sacrifices Charles made for Liberty Party. He wanted to build an institution that would carry on even if he was not around. It was not just about Charles Brumskine.”
Paying tribute to her husband at the occasion, she recalled Cllr Charles Walker Brumskine believed in lifting others up – whether it was encouraging people in the Party to run for political offices, personally campaigning for them, providing financial support, being there for them no matter what.
“And for other members of the party, he was always available to help in whatever way he could! To Charles, everyone in Liberty Party was family and with him, family came first! Party! Charles was not perfect, as none of us are – but I know how much he loved this country and did his best to do what he believed was right, no matter the consequences! I thank God for the time he was with us, and for the many lives he touched!”
She also reflected how Liberty Party has been through a lot during the past few years, but added, “This is a Party that survives! Liberty Party lives on!!!”
Speaking to Daughter
She then turned her moving remarks at her daughter, saying: “Now, I ask your indulgence as I speak to Charlyne Mnamah-mar as a mother to a daughter. Teta Miah (as I and the rest of the family call her) I am so proud of you. I thank God for this very special moment in your life. You are in this moment not just by luck or by chance, but because of the way you have lived your life and the choices you have made.
“You know, when you were young, and you would bring your report card home from school, many times with all ‘A’s, you would be so proud of yourself. When you showed your report card to your father and me, he would say, Miah, why are you acting so happy and proud because you made all ‘A’s? We expect nothing less than that of you. And you yourself should expect nothing less.
“You are supposed to make all ‘A’s. And when you left the room, I would say: Charles, why are you so hard on Teta Miah? And he would say to me: Mommy, Miah has such great potential!
“I see it in her even at this early age! She knows what she wants, she’s very passionate about things she cares about, and she has a good, caring spirit. I want her to live up to her full potential! And she can only do that by learning to excel in whatever she does. Teta Miah, I can see that you are still doing your best to live up to your full potential. I am sure your father is so proud of you! He loved you so much!
She continued: “I have closely watched you over the years, as a mother watches her loving daughter. I have seen you, with God’s help, meet and beat challenges that have come your way. And there have been many challenges! I am not talking only about political challenges – you have had personal challenges, professional challenges, and other challenges.
“But because of your character, determination, integrity, values, your upbringing, and of course, most importantly, your personal relationship with God, you have come through all of these challenges, a little battle-scared, yes, but with your head held high! And these challenges have made you an even stronger, more determined, and better person!
“Many people who don’t know about you think you have had an easy ride in life, that things were thrown into your lap. Yes, we are grateful to God for opportunities that have come your way.
“However, you have worked extremely hard to take advantage of opportunities given to you to get where you are today. You have been guided by a favorite bible verse of the Charles Walker Brumskine family: 1st Corinthians 15:10 – But by the grace of God, I am what I am and his grace to me was not in vain, No, I worked harder than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
Madam Brumskine recalled that she and Charlyne’s father instilled in her and her siblings that they are not better than anyone.
“We always said: but for the grace of God, we taught you about equality in the eyes of the Lord and that each of you has a duty to help others. That lesson has stuck with you. I see how that love and care for others have continued to grow and flourish over the years
“I see your concerns about the inequities in our society. You are here today because you believe the Liberian people deserve better. Yes, Liberians deserve a better life. And that is why I know that you will work hard to give Liberians the opportunities they deserve, so that they too, can live up to their full potential!”
We are Proud of You
She expressed how proud she and the rest of the Brumskine family and other relatives are so glad Charlyne has been making enormous extraordinary feats in her life.
“Your family is so proud of you,” she noted, beaming with smiles. “I pray God’s blessing upon you as you go through this political journey.
“I have told you – and you have seen it for yourself – this is not an easy journey! But keep focused, and continue to care passionately about what you believe in. With God’s grace, your unwavering dedication and commitment to bring change, your courage, and the support and prayers of so many people that are on board to walk this political journey with you, I believe this journey will be successful.”
Thanks CPP, Cummings, Others
She lavished praises at Mr. Alexander Cummings and the CPP for choosing Charlyne Mnanah-mar as his running mate.
“To the Executive Committee, members and partisans of Liberty Party: thank you! To the people of Bassaland, the home of my late husband and myself – Thank you oh! To Mr. Charles Dennis, Charlyne’s fiancé: Charles, thank you for being a solid rock in her life and her prayer partner!
“I would also like to thank the people of Liberia – far and near – for your support for Charlyne Mnamar-mar. Many of you have reached out to her with words of encouragement, words of support, and even with prayers. Thank you! Thank you all and God bless Liberia!”