MONROVIA – In an effort to consolidate and render President George Manneh Weah’s 2023 second term victory impossible, the Standard Bearer of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) Alexander B. Cummings has assembled a 44-member crack team comprising distinguished Liberians. Presenting his “Team Cummings” to the Liberian people on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at a briefing program held at the headquarters of the Liberty Party in Sinkor, the ANC and CPP Standard Bearer outlined a myriad of reasons why President Weah should not be given another opportunity to plunge the country down the abyss. “President Weah has shown all of us that he is incompetent, irresponsible, and his lack of leadership makes him a danger to our country’s peace and security. We must rescue our country from the incapable hands of President Weah in 2023,” Mr. Cummings said.
Comprising initially 44 members and led by Liberia’s former Ambassador to the United Nations, Lewis Garseedah Brown, Team Cummings’ membership also includes Dr. Togar Gayewea McIntosh, George Gyude Wisner, H. Dan Morias, Senator Jonathan Boye Charles Sogbie, Madam Julia Duncan-Cassell, Madam Mariama D. Sangare, Mr. Daniel Chea, Mr. Roland Siddiq Kamara, Atty. Lafayette Gould, Representative Larry Nyanquoi, Representative Yekeh Kolubah, Emmanuel Yartoe, Atty. Aloysius Toe, Martin Saye Kollah, Madam Nicky Jah, William Moyes, Ma Kula Morris, Othelo Krayee, Rev. David Benito, Peter Nuyan and Chernor Jalloh.
Others include David Bajibo, Madam Queenyah Thomas Saturday, Elder Rufus Saydee, Ms. Robell Gbeintor, Elder Jallah, Madam Carmena Abdallah, Ma Musu Sanoe, Chris Dossen, Rev. Josiah Kennedy, Rodney Wilson, Madam Wadei Powell, Momo Sambola, Atty. Lawrence Sua, Onesimus James, Madama Louise Duarto, Madela Geeplay, Madam Aumuo Ebanks, Madam Vivian Sendolo Norman, Madam Kebbeh Collins, Mr. Samuel Dean, Victor Saye, and Jethro SK Harris.
Mr. Cummings further stated that the constitution of the 44-member comes at a difficult period in the history of Liberia, when scandals, criminal acts, poor judgments, and the lack of leadership continue to undermine the country’s international image and reputation, making it difficult to attract investors.
“Incompetence and the failure of leadership, beginning with President Weah, have resulted into shortage in the supply of rice, our nation’s staple. Warehouses are empty and rice cannot be found. Today, our market women are spending weeks, days, and nights sleeping in front of importers’ offices, hoping to buy food. Videos and pictures of our people jumping fences and fighting to get access to their most basic needs are heartbreaking and sad. Rice, our staple, has become unavailable and unaffordable. As we say, “rice na wear coat suit”. This is leading to the sharp increase in the prices of substitutes such as cassava, eddoes, plantain, fufu, etc. thereby worsening the hardships on our people, all across the country. The lack of accountability around the rice subsidy allotted, disbursed and received is a regular occurrence under this government. In the face of all of this, President Weah is partying with his Ministers as Liberians are scrambling to find food to eat. The President has failed to even speak to the Liberian people and provide leadership during this crisis. The truth is, the President does not care,” Cummings blasted.
Also broaching the subject of the recent drug bust by Liberian security forces with assistance from the United States Government, Mr. Cummings said Liberia has long been regarded as a major transshipment country for dangerous drugs and narcotics, noting that the recent bust of US$100 Million worth of cocaine – thanks to the assistance of the United States Government – not only further confirms the growing problem of drug use and related crimes in the country, but also that Liberia is participating in the international supply chain of dangerous drugs to the world.
“To allow the use of our country for the transshipment of dangerous narcotics makes Liberia unsafe, and threatens the future of our children. It is hard to imagine that elements of the administration with the authority to protect our country’s borders did not know, or have not been providing confidence in the form of security guarantees to the international drug dealers. Under President Weah, friendly governments have scandalously accused the administration of the sales and issuance of Liberian diplomatic passports to international drug dealers and terrorists. The truth also is that not knowing that our country has become a transshipment point for dangerous drugs is as dangerous as knowing, facilitating and providing security for the dealers.
“All of these only further testify that President Weah is misleading our country, destroying our important relationships, worsening the living condition of the Liberian people, and exposing our country and citizens to danger. In five years, President Weah has shown all of us that he is incompetent, irresponsible, and his lack of leadership makes him a danger to our country’s peace and security. We must rescue our country from the incapable hands of President Weah in 2023,” the CPP Standard Bearer stated beratingly.
According to Mr. Cummings, to ensure that President Weah does not be given another chance to further tarnish the image of Liberia, the CPP has taken an important step forward.
“All across the rich diversities of our nation, a growing number of our fellow Liberians are embracing our message of real change. I am grateful to everyone who continue to believe that although it is difficult, real change is possible in our country. History tells us that too often, change does not begin with a crowd. It begins with a committed few – a few that are like-minded and committed to make the required sacrifices by putting in the work to change the circumstances of their country. Too often, when a committed few enjoin their efforts, and are willing to put interests of country over interests of self or political party, change happens – the course of a nation gets reset, and people lives improve for the better.
“Today, we stand on that historic truth to name the first few of our Real Change Team. These Liberians reflect not just a rich pool of talents but also the rich diversity that is Liberia’s. Our hope is that Liberians everywhere will see themselves in this Team. One of the Real Changes we seek is that we will no longer only represent some Liberians, because in the united Liberia we seek, no one must be left out or left behind. Liberia belongs to all Liberians. Our differences in religion, gender, tribe and political parties ought not to divide but unite us in building a better, prosperous and just Liberia.
“We wish to use the opportunity of this occasion to also reassure all Liberians that we will work with everyone for real change beyond tribes, religion, gender and political parties. Truly, Liberia deserves better. Liberians deserve better,” Cummings assured, after which he named the full configuration of the CPP Campaign Team.