Cummings’ Quarantine: An Inspiration for Liberians -ANC Says It’s Good Examples for Courageous Leadership
The Alternative National Congress (ANC) informs all partisans, sympathizers, well-wishers and the general public of the safe return and quarantine of its Political Leader, Mr. Alexander Cummings. Mr. Cummings returned home on March 22, after traveling to the Bahamas to attend the Board Meeting of a Fortune 500 Company on whose board he serves as a member and has been quarantined, but indicated that their leader’s isolation is good examples for courageous leadership.
A press release of March 23, 2020 signed by the party’s National Secretary General Aloysius Toe reiterated that this moment of quarantine presents the ANC and our leader a chance to hopefully inspire our country, by the quality of his good examples and courageous leadership, and added that plans are underway to use the period of his quarantine to draw increased attention to, as well as, to improve belief in the existence of this virus and the threats it poses to all of us.
From his quarantine, our leader’s voice will be expectedly loud about the need we collectively share, to act responsibly in preserving our individual health, and especially, protecting the health and wellness of others, the Alternative National Congress said.
The NAC maintained that rather than Mr. Cummings remaining abroad during this period of a threatening health crisis for all Liberians, Mr. Cummings decided to return to Monrovia after a week in Ghana.
The release said he is keenly aware of the conditions of our health infrastructure, and yet, very proud and confident of the experiences of the men and women on the frontline of the fight against the deadly Coronavirus Disease—many of whose resilient shoulders our nation rested to overcome the past Ebola Virus Epidemic of 2014.
Accordingly, Mr. Cummings returned to the country to place his health into the hands of Liberian health professionals as all Liberians at home are now doing. “This is why, prior to his return home, he engaged with authorities at the National Public Health Institute (NPHIL), and availed himself to be quarantined,” the release noted.
The ANC said authorities of NPHIL had inspected Mr. Cummings’ premises, and had advised self-quarantine and regular monitoring visits, as his presenting condition necessitated. “At a time of extreme economic need, the NPHIL and indeed the government could have been spared the cost of quarantining Mr. Cummings in a public facility. However, being in relatively good health and continuing to strictly observe the announced safety and preventive measures, Mr. Cummings welcomed the unexplained and abrupt change in the decision to now have him quarantined in a public facility,” the party said in its release.
But why would Cummings agree to quarantine at a government facility? The release said “Mr. Cummings is looking to use this experience to further lift his voice and the selfless character of his leadership to inspire our people to believe in the existence of this deadly Coronavirus Disease, the extreme damage it portends for our country, and the collectivity of the efforts we must undertake against its transmission.”
The ANC indicated that Liberia as a country desperately needs selfless leadership exemplified in the quality of their judgment, saying that actions must be taking to help protect each other. Sadly, these are precariously absent, including from the highest levels of our government, the party asserted.
The ANC said it recognizes that across many communities, mistrust in the administration is increasingly, and understandably high, and that public doubts, mistrusts and disbelief become the platform on which the virus feeds to inflict its deadly stings.
On these tendencies, the party said the Coronavirus Disease has overtaken the minds of many of the people of the country. “This is largely on account of the growing absence of presidential judgment and leadership, when our country needs it the most. Our leaders are failing to lead, and even worse, they are asking our people to walk a path they are themselves not ready to trod,” the release maintained.
The release also said, “We are in the midst of an overwhelming crisis. Rather than pull us together – all Liberians of all stripes and persuasions – to fight side by side, and win together for our country, as we successfully did in our fight against Ebola, the President is again seeking to divide us, sowing seeds of public doubts by minimizing the crisis we face, politicizing the fight against this virus and characteristically retreating into silence, at a time when the country needs to be inspired and reassured. This is a dangerous exercise of presidential judgment and leadership, none of which our country needs, at this time.”
Accentuating that these are not usual times, the ANC averred that the weight of the crisis requires more than a refrain of critically important pronouncements by the Minister of Health whose appointed voice does not bear the same veritable resonance as the President’s, who was elected by the people and deserve to hear him— especially in times of difficulties.
“Of course, a public health law may derogate a duty to the Minister of Health, but the crisis we face commands the more authoritative voice of the President. It is no wonder many of our people are still doubtful,” the ANC said.
As if this is not bad enough, the ANC noted in its release that the Liberian people are being regularly treated to the irresponsible and reprehensible behavior of public officials, the latest of which was the comical wearing of a mask by the Minister of Information, at a Press Conference by the Acting Director-General of NPHIL, to provide needed update to the country—protective masks which are not only unnecessary to be worn and against the announced preventive measures but also which are in global short supply, and desperately needed by healthcare workers.
“These irresponsible actions, in the face of a health crisis of potentially immeasurable proportions, have continued to increase the health risk of Liberians, and have now combined to undermine both the public perception about the existence of the Coronavirus in our country, and its threateningly deadly consequences. It has also weakened the gallant efforts of our doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers, who are doing all that they can, to help us fight this pandemic as senior officials take this as a joke,” the part indicated.
No doubt, these are difficult times. Our thoughts and prayers are with our leader and his family, every Liberian and their families, those in quarantine, especially those who have been confirmed to have the virus; we pray for your speedy and successful recovery.
“Our thoughts and prayers are also with people everywhere in our world who are infected and afflicted; the doctors and nurses who are heroically caring for them, including our own doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who are at the frontline of our fight; the families of all those who are sick and all who are grieving the passing of loved ones to the virus; Our prayers are also with all governments into whose care, trust, actions and decisions, including our own, the lives of so many invariably depend,” the part noted.
The President can choose to retreat into silence, may act and encourage his public officials to conduct themselves irresponsibly, and may ignore their public duties to the people, The ANC finally said it is the choice they have elected to make at this time.
“However, the ANC believes that Liberians do not necessarily have to do the same. Mr. Alexander Cummings, has shown a example of responsible selfless public behavior and we urge all Liberians to see this good example and choose the path of responsible citizenship. This way, we will overcome. This way, the ANC assures all Liberians that we will get through this. Such is the depth of our faith, and the quality of our commitment from which we cannot be dissuaded. We are proud of our leader,” the release concluded.
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