“Like Liberty Party, Liberians Must Reconcile” -Charlyne Cautions Partisans Against Taking Unity for Granted

MONROVIA – About a year ago, no one would have imagined that partisans of one of the country’s most formidable political institutions could be sitting together, reasoning together, and charting a roadmap for their party’s political survival. But that is just what the Liberty Party (LP) did over the weekend when once bitterly opposing sides, angry family members, sons and daughter who fought against each other for nearly two years decided to mend fences to converge at their National Headquarters where they not only witnessed the induction of a new corps of party leadership, but endorsed their party’s amended constitution and accepted a resolution that paved the way for genuine reconciliation. As the legacy torchbearer of the Liberty Party and Chairperson of the LP Advisory Council, Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine-Dennis used the occasion to caution her fellow partisans to look beyond the pomp and pageantry of the LP Reconciliation Convention and soberly reflect on the rocky path that the party traveled within two years, noting that the solemnity of the LP Reconciliation Convention should never be taken for granted, and that like Liberty Party, the entire country must be unified.

“Today is an emotional day. Everyone who knows me knows that I can be very emotional when it comes to things of Liberty Party and Liberia. I will make sure I will not cry; I will not get emotional. But I want those of you who are not members of the Liberty Party to know that you are witnessing something that is historic in nature.

“You are witnessing an event that has people sitting beside each other when two years ago we could hardly look each other in the face; when two years ago, sisters were not speaking, brothers had abused each other, families were broken apart. Today we sit here as one unified Liberty Party. I don’t’ want you to take it for granted. This is a day the people have been waiting for. It was not easy to come to this place, and nobody should take it for granted,” Cllr. Brumskine-Dennis said.

Liberia Must Reconcile Like Liberty Party

The outspoken legal luminary further emphasized the importance of the Liberty Party Reconciliation Convention, noting that it is reflective of what Liberia would be.

“It is not just the Liberty Party that needs reconciliation. This nation is divided. And what Liberty Party has done today is to show Liberians across the length and breadth of this nation that if we can do it, Liberia too can do it.

“My own big brother Jacob Smith stood here and said some emotional things, but he spoke to the ruling party. I will speak to those who are not in the ruling party, and I will say it to you, that we too have a place in Liberia; that we too will stand with all of us here; that there is no winner and there is no loser in Liberty Party. We have all come to support the ruling administration when support is needed, and as Hon. Jacob Smith said, when constructive criticism is needed, we are here to stand and constructively criticize. That was what made Liberty Party what it was.

“The next thing I will say is when Hon Jacob Smith spoke about Charles Brumskine, I always like people to be reminded that Charles Brumskine was nobody but a lawyer for Bassa. He stood between two giants, for a long time, the Unity Party and the CDC. And Liberty Party arose to become one of the greatest alternatives in Liberia. Today we can remain that. Today I want to thank the Political Leader as I close for his grace to cover all of us. You are now responsible for all these people that have come together.

“To those members of Liberty Party that are not here today, we are waiting for your return. It is just the beginning of great things to come,” Cllr. Brumskine-Dennis said.

She also used the occasion to commend the LP Political Leader, Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence; and the Party’s National Chairperson, Madam Rugie Barry, pledging her unflinching support to their administration.

“I am standing in my capacity as the advisory council chair, and I speak to the Political Leader and to the Chairperson of the Liberty Party. I want you to know that I am here to support you. I speak on behalf of the advisory council. We are here to advise. We are here to guide; we are here to protect. What has come together, nobody, no entity, no devil from Hell will break it apart. Lastly, as women, everyone has mentioned that three of the organizations of the Liberty Party are headed by women.  The political leader, the chair of the Executive Committee, the Chair of the Advisory Committee are three women. We will show Liberia what women leadership is all about.

“Our chairperson, the pressure is on you. We know your capacity. We know your history in the Liberty Party. We know your love for this country. We are expecting great things from you. Madam Rugie Barry, we are here for you. Let’s move the Liberty Party forward,” Clrr. Brumskine-Dennis said passionately.