MONROVIA — The Vision Bearer of the newly certificated People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Dr. Daniel E. Cassell has assured Liberians and international partners that the party remains fully ready and prepared to lift citizens out of poverty, promote participatory and inclusive governance process and ensure the equitable distribution of the country’s resources for the benefit of the citizenry.
Dr. Cassell said though the PLP is a new political movement that is different from other political parties in Liberia, the party stands ready to assume leadership and transform Liberia through collective and inclusive participation.
He made these comments on Saturday, February 20, 2021 during a program marking the official launch of the PLP’s National Headquarters in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.
He observed that most citizens, particularly the ordinary and less fortunate Liberian citizens have been allegedly abandoned and neglected, but the party remains ready to advocate for and defend the rights of the poor and underprivileged.
“We are ready to lift Liberians out of poverty through value addition agriculture programs and road connectivity in which Liberians will be the drivers and not the car loaders. We are ready to bring our private sector experience to the public sector and transform our service industries to be efficient and effective in the delivery of quality services. We are ready to reform our education system through decentralization of services, training of the education workforce and strengthening systems, especially early childhood education”.
“We are ready to recalibrate the engine of our health system from an activity-based to a results-based model through a performance management system, and We are ready to reach out to all Liberians, irrespective of your social-political or tribal affiliation, to move Liberia forward. Never again, should we be afraid of the future, “The Time Is Now and We Are Ready”.
He pointed out that for democracy to work in the Liberian society, every individual’s voice should matter, and people in positions of public trust should be held accountable to work for the people and help develop the country.
“We must endeavor to ensure that the marginalized, disenfranchised and poor of our society are not repeatedly victimized by the political elites and cunning political actors/actresses whose sole aims are to gain government employment and to amass illegal wealth”.
Spectators
Dr. Cassell stated that there are systematic challenges undermining the gains we have made as a nation; our economy is still struggling to get back on its feet, unemployment is a major challenge.
To compound this, he noted that, companies are still laying off workers, while Liberians remain spectators in their own economy.
He said the country’s education and health systems are challenged by inadequate domestic resource allocation, limited qualified and trained workforce, poor service delivery especially for the rural communities and the most vulnerable and physically challenged groups.
He maintained that in response to these challenges, the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), seeks to become the “alternative political institution that will do all in its power by the grace of God, to liberate our people from economic degradation, education paralysis, health immobility and agriculture decadence through inclusive and democratic participation of all Liberians, irrespective of your county, tribe, or social status”.
“PLP core beliefs of diversity and inclusivity are based on the conviction that collectivism is the progressive path to move our nation forward. It is grounded in the six political tenets: Agriculture, Socio-economic, Education, Health and Wellbeing, Employment, and Infrastructure Developments, with emphasis on improving the Healthcare, Roads, Electricity, Water and Sewer, and Human Resource Development. These five political tenets are the key elements in dignifying the lives of the Liberian people and developing our country. To these, we pledge our total commitment”.
He further pointed out that the birth of the PLP is grounded in social justice, economic freedom, and human capital development.
“In this spirit of patriotism, we welcome all Liberians to join hands with the PLP”.
The launch of the headquarters of the PLP’s national headquarters coincided with the induction of the party’s acting leadership into offices.
Those inducted by the Vision Bearer, Dr. Cassell include: Wilmot Paye (National Chairman), Tapple E. Doe (National Ciairman for Administration and Finance), Alphanso D. Bindah (National Vice Chairman for Operations), and David Woods Beyan, Sr (National Deputy Secretary General).
Others are: Stephen T. L Vorkpor (Assistant Secretary for Press, Propaganda and Media), Carlos Tingban Edison (National Youth Assembly Chair) and Christina Christopher (National Vice Chair of Administration/Women Wing).
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Paye observed vowed to ensure that the next twelve months, the party’s vision of an effective, efficient and fully functional and community-based People’s Liberation Party will be aggressively pursued through grass-root mobilization.
“Through the establishment and sustenance of dynamic, vibrant and conscious youth, women and other relevant organs that promote broad participation, we will build a political party that is completely different. Foremost on this agenda is to make The People’s Liberation Party a movement for all Liberians, including persons with disabilities. Let me hasten to add that the Constitution of The PLP provides for establishment of Standing or Specialized Committees, one of which is the Standing Committee on Persons with Disabilities”.
He pointed out that after many years as one of the strongest and dependable voices of reason, he has finally separated himself from the Unity Party.
“I take this ultimate gamble not because it had been my wish or desire to leave one political party for another, but because from all indications Liberians and the world now know that the noble dreams, vision, ideals, principles, core values and philosophy conceived by Jackson Fiah Doe, Sr, Edward Binyah Kesselly and William Gabriel Kpolleh nearly forty years ago have been hijacked by Greed”.
“I assume the role of Chairman with absolute humility, trusting that the same loving and benevolent CREATOR WHO revealed HIMSELF to me on Sunday, August 19, 2007 and WHO led me over the years, will direct the course of The People’s Liberation Party for HIS name’s sake and for the sake of the suffering masses of Liberia”.
Chairman Paye disclosed that his goal is to establish one Liberation Chapter in every county, including at district, chiefdom, city, township, town, and village levels within twelve (12) months beginning effective March 2021 and ending March 2022, respectively.
He added that though the task appears huge, his leadership will achieve it.
“As a new political party, we have no choice. We must roll our sleeves, tighten our belts and prepare to move with supersonic rapidity”.
He noted that though some political parties in Liberia adopt names and mottos which their founders and leaders do not truly believe in, with the full support and cooperation of Liberians, the People’s Liberation Party will be different in conduct, attitude, behavior, actions, operations, decisions and character.
Promoting selfish motives
Chairman Paye observed that for too long politics in Liberia has been misrepresented.
According to him, politics has been portrayed as a vehicle for promoting the selfish ambitions of corrupt individuals whose only motivation for entering politics is to exploit their own Nation.
“But The PLP believes that Liberia cannot continue like this, especially in this 21st Century. This must change! I am not talking about a mere change of personnel. The same traditional politicians that plunged Liberia into the mess it is in cannot lead any true transformation. Liberia needs a totally different breed of politicians. We cannot afford to disappoint them”.
According to him, the PLP was born out of the quest to actualize Article 5c of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
“Under this provision of our constitution, nepotism, sectionalism and tribalism are highlighted as “vices”. But show me one political party on either side of the divide which has distinguished itself as a vehicle for actualizing this clause. There is none! At the Fourth Annual Republican Women’s National Conference of 6 March 1956, Dwight D. Eisenhower had said and I quote, “If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power”.. This is what our Party stands for and must advance”.
He maintained that to liberate Liberia from “corrupt politicians and their allies is moral and just” or else, the “governance machinery will remain a den of thieves.
Chairman Paye added that the PLP will work with patriotic Liberians at home and abroad to foster and promote a national Liberation Agenda under which no selfish personal agenda and interests will be entertained or nurtured.
Greed
“The wealth of Liberia is for all Liberians and must be managed and utilized for their sole benefit and enjoyment. Let me reaffirm to you, Dr. Cassell, that for this noble cause you have a true partner in me and the thousands of our fellow citizens at home and abroad who are anxious to liberate Liberia from the Mother of all evils: Greed”.
He claimed that greed remains the source of Liberia’s social, political, economic and cultural problems.
“This is the enemy we must defeat. Liberation is the tool—the weapon, the instrument, the political arsenal required—to wage and win this warfare. Make no mistake. Liberia’s problem is not a change of personnel”.
“It does not matter whether one group in The Capitol Building, the Presidency or The Temple of Justice is replaced with another. It does not matter whether one traditional political party at the helm power is replaced with another. What matters is to recognize, as Dr. Cassell does, that our country has been hijacked. Liberia is in a form of slavery and only liberation can deliver it from. And the time is now!”
In The People’s Liberation Party, Chairman Paye maintained that patriotism is a motivation, while integrity and discipline are hallmarks of the organizational culture.
Not waiting room
He noted that the opposition environment in Liberia is not a “waiting room for corrupt individuals to regroup or conspire to unseat another group”.
After all, he added, that there is no evidence in history that consummate tribalists and conventional politicians who reject truth and do not promote integrity but fear those who stand up against dishonesty within their own organizations have the spine to lead transformation in any society.
“You cannot give what you do not have. Integrity does change its character or nature, no matter what. While it exposes the ills and evils done by others, it distances itself from that which is committed under its nose. No political party, alliance or coalition, however “good” the intentions may be, can present itself as a viable alternative if it fails and/or refuses to hold its own members and leaders accountable for their evil deeds and conduct”.
Chairman Paye emphasized that Liberians should never allowed members of the “self-seeking political class to intercept yet another opportunity to restore hope to our people”.
“THE TIME IS NOW! My dear fellow Liberians, the elections in 2023 must never be about replacing one failing Government with another led by corrupt elements from the past. The People’s Liberation Party, as our name suggests, is here to emancipate Liberia from the politics of deception—of corruption, nepotism, sectionalism and tribalism. Our Party cannot and will not promote these vices. Patriotism, integrity, accountability and transparency are virtues that are the minimum standards that those in leadership at national, county, district, chiefdom, township, town, village and community levels must meet at all times and under all circumstances. We cannot compromise these”.
According to him, to liberate Liberia requires fresh, new ideas, practical and predictable approaches to tackling the problems of corruption, nepotism, sectionalism and tribalism.
“When we liberate Liberia from the conspiring thieves that control and dominate our politics, then we can change, then we can qualify to become a viable alternative to the political bacteria and virus that continue to infect governance. When we stop greed and greedy politicians, then we can generate enough revenue to support farmers, schools, hospitals and clinics, connect our Country with good road networks, attract investors, create more jobs, insulate our courts and judges against political interference, strengthen our army and security agencies”.
“When we liberate Liberia, then our cities, towns and villages will be zoned and reorganized. Then family values will matter, and morality, decency, integrity and truthfulness will be the hallmarks of our politics, not hypocrisy, deception and lies! When we liberate Liberia, then a new constitution will be written to suit the time we live in, and to meet contemporary needs, not one that was fashioned on outdated and outmoded norms. My dear people, Liberia cannot continue the way it has been. The mode of politics must change, so “The Time Is Now”!