MONROVIA – In a no holds barred media appearance during the week, Alternative National Congress Political Leader and Presidential hopeful Alexander Benedict Cummings minced little words when he spoke candidly about burning national issues bordering on the recent brutalization of MCSS students by the Liberian National Police (LNP). He also used the occasion to speak on the current House of Representatives speakership rumble, as well as the ongoing Nimba County by-elections. As The Analyst reports, Mr. Cummings has named and shamed the government for its heavy handedness towards the peacefully protesting MCSS student. He also used the occasion to blame the Executive branch of government for the ongoing House crisis, while openly declaring his support in the ongoing Nimba County senatorial by-election to Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh whose candidacy has been challenged by contestant Samuel Kogar because Nimba accordingly is not ready to replace the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson with a woman.
Govt. Manhandling of protesting MCSS student wrong
Appearing this week Monday on Sky FM, Mr. Cumming registered his disappointment with the government of Liberia over the reaction of the police against the peacefully protesting MCSS students which he said was totally wrong.
“Students and citizens have the right to peacefully protest. The government reaction should have been focused on the issues being raised by the students. It’s a slippery slope to attack people when they’re protesting. It is wrong. They missed the fundamental issues. The students have legitimate gripes. They were protesting because it’s their right to do so. Shame on the government, shame on the police. Their reaction towards the precious jewels of this country was wrong,” Mr. Cummings said.
Gangster’s paradise
Regarding the ongoing House of Representatives leadership crisis, Cummings said the whole thing smacks of a gangster paradise where the rule of law is nonexistent, a situation which he said is facilitated by the Executive branch of government.
According to the ANC political leader, there are many things in the Liberian Constitution and House rules that are not clear, but the issue of how to remove a speaker is clear.
“This one, there is no lack of clarity. It takes 37 people to elect the speaker, it takes 49 people to get rid of the speaker. It’s clear. It doesn’t take a resolution to remove the speaker. This is not about taking sides with anybody. It’s about the rule of law. It’s about our behavior. This sort of gangster behavior will get us nowhere. It is just gangsterism. If you don’t have 49 people you can’t remove the speaker. If you have to negotiate with the current speaker so he agrees to walk away, but you cannot get rid of the speaker if you don’t have 49 people. And that’s where we have this gangsterism, electing another speaker. The rules are clear. I hope the Supreme Court has the courage to also rule the right way,” Cummings said.
He furthered that the Supreme Court ultra vires should have been clearer so the Liberian public, the majority of whom are illiterate, can comprehend.
“Regarding the Supreme Court ultra vires ruling, I think the Court needs to be more literate, given our environment and the illiteracy. But let’s see what the Court will say with this Bill of Information. Maybe they will be clearer. Maybe they will say it in a way that it will be subject to different interpretations that the Minister of Justice had to give his own interpretation. My hope is that they will rule in a way that there will be no way for misinterpreting. Ultra vires is Latin. The Supreme Court should have a simple way to let the people understand,” Cummings said.
Mr. Cummings stressed that the ongoing House leadership crisis has painted Liberia in a negative way and is scaring investors from Liberia.
“The perception about Liberia is not good. We are the oldest democracy on the continent. Imagine going to Abuja and what they’re telling us and when they come here what they see. It’s not good for business. If you’re an investor looking for where to invest money and the government is fighting among themselves, you’re not going to invest in this country. So, it’s bad for us. As you know, we are aspiring to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, but that doesn’t help. If you can’t get your own act in order, who are you going to be advocating for? What example are you setting in your country for any other country? There are two separate branches of government, but we know the reality is that the Executive influenced the Legislative branch. Maybe the president needs to exercise a leadership role. When a crisis like this affects the image of the country, the economy of the country, the President has to find a way to arbitrate.
“If I were President, I would get the parties in a room and tell them, look, gentlemen, we’re not leaving here until we solve this problem. No one is drinking water, no eating, we shut the door and resolve the problem. Let’s find a way.
“But besides the point, I support what Fonati is doing because we’ve got to enforce the rule of law. The fact is, if you want to get rid of the man, if you don’t have the 49, you have to sit with the man and negotiate. I am not sure that has been done. What I support is that you cannot just bolster your way through. We have a constitution and we have rules for a reason. Fonati is on a principled stance.
“The other reality is that the budget has about US$40 million allocated for the legislature. If you were working and functioning, maybe you can justify it. But for 103 people, US$40 million in the US$800 million budget for the whole country, there has to be a lot of prioritization and belt tightening, given the chaos that is happening in the world today.
“Having two speakers is wrong internationally because ECOWAS refused to honor those legislators appointed by the Majority Bloc under Richard Koon,” Mr. Cummings said.
Endorsing Edith
Candidly expressing his support for the only female candidate in the Nimba County senatorial by-election race, Mr. Cummings openly disavowed remarks made by Representative Samuel Kogar that Nimba County is not ready for a female to replace the Senator Prince Y. Johnson’s seat. He disclosed that he and the ANC have endorsed former Nimba County Superintendent to become the next senator of Nimba County.
“The ANC and I have endorsed Edith to be Senator because we think we will represent Nimba well. She is qualified. She is the right candidate. We will be issuing a formal statement to that effect. But also to that point, I am a husband, a father and grandfather of three girls. I want my granddaughters to aspire to be anything they want to be. I don’t want any constraints for them, and that’s true for the Liberian people as well. I don’t think that statement reflects Nimbaians. It is just one person’s view. I know Samuel, he probably regrets, I hope he does,” Cummings stated emphatically.
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