
Harper, Maryland County – Channelling the memories of William V.S. Tubman, Maryland County turned out in massive crowds Saturday to embrace the candidacy of Alexander B. Cummings, Standard Bearer of the Alternative National Congress.
Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
In declaring the campaign for the leadership of the ANC officially opened for the upcoming presidential and legislative elections, the former Coca Cola Executive said Liberians will now begin to see, moving forward, the momentum building from the launch in Maryland.
Mr. Cummings said his leadership and the ANC is offering change that no other political party in the upcoming elections is offering and charged that Liberians should do away with old wines in new bottles. “Do not take old wine in new bottles. This is what my candidacy and the ANC is offering. I know I can count on you. But the choice is yours. You can decide if you want a new life or a different life; you can elect the ANC and my candidacy. We need you to support our party for a better Liberia.”
Mr. Cummings and a crowd of supporters entered the Maryland Capital early Saturday and paraded throughout the principal streets of the capital with a star-studded entourage that included Hipco artist candidacy, also a candidate for the Montserrado County District No. 8 legislative race.
Addressing thronged of his supporters in Harper Saturday at the Harper Stadium, Mr. Cummings thanked his running mate Jeremiah Sulunteh for accepting his request to take him along what he described as a journey to transform Liberia.
Mr. Cummings said the launch of his candidacy is about transformation. “This is about change and about the transformation of Liberia. Today begins the journey to start the process of changing our country for the benefit of all Liberians. After 170 years, we are one of the least developed countries in the world. I say to you my fellow Liberians, after 170 years, we deserve a better Liberia.”
Continued Mr. Cummings: “You deserve better roads, better electricity in every part of this country, running water in every part of this country. These are all things that as Liberians after 170 years, it is not too much to ask for; it is not too much to demand of our leaders because they are the basic necessities in life.”
The ANC standard bearer pledged that help is on the way for Liberia. “We going to first make sure we provide, power, electricity, internet, water, we will then focus on creating jobs, growing the economy for our young people. Too many Liberians are unemployed. We will focus on agriculture, so we can feed ourselves. Invest in education, health.”
Mr. Cummings said his strategy for transforming Liberia will include engaging all Liberians in the transformation of Liberia. “All of us have to be involved in the transformation of our people, arts, culture and engage Liberians in the transformation, and own the transformation, also focus on finding the money and resources to do the things we want to do.”
The ANC leader said it is time for leaders to redistribute the wealth of Liberia so that all Liberians can benefit.
This he said will require to a lot of sacrifices on each and every Liberians including members of the national legislature. “We have to pay lawmakers less so we can increase civil servants, tackle waste and pay nurses better. This is the only way they will be encouraged to make more sacrifices.”
On corruption, Mr. Cummings said his administration will prosecute corrupt officials and seize assets of former officials in a bid to invest in the Liberian people.
The ANC leader also pledged to create a government of inclusion by using technology and connections to grow the economy. “We will grow that bowl of rice so that each and every Liberian can get their fair share. If you rare willing to work hard you will get your fair share.”
Mr. Cummings also pledged to empower Liberian businesses and make them grow so that they can contributed to the economic transformation of Liberia. “We can do these things and as a son of Maryland, we will make sure we do these things are made available.
“We will start in Maryland, we will start in the Southeast and make sure that the rest of Liberia become part of the change. “As a son of the Southeast, I can assure you that this part of Liberia will no longer be abandoned, cut off from the rest of the country for most part of the year. If you don’t take care of your home how can you take care of the rest of Liberia.”
On reconciliation, Mr. Cummings assured Liberians that under his watch, all Liberians will be incorporated in the government and not just a few. “We will be leaders for all Liberians, no matter your tribe, religion or where you from. Liberia belong to all of you. We will invest in each and every Liberian and as leaders, we will eat last, we ill make sure that Liberians are fed and taken care of first before we take care of ourselves.”
Mr. Cummings added: “We will take care of teachers, soldiers and health care workers before we take care of the central government. Will make sure our young people have the education and all they need to have jobs.”
The ANC leader lamented the fact that Liberia’s next door neighbors that are much younger than the oldest country on the continent are faring off better and attributed the lapses to bad governance and abuse of wealth. “These things are being done in our neighboring countries: Ghana, Ivory coast, South Africa. You and I are not any less than they are, but we need different and new legislature. Under my watch, you will see change in Liberia. We are committed to serving the Liberian people, we want to serve you to meet the needs of the Liberian people and I promise you it can be done. This is a change you can trust, this is a real change. If we keep doing the same things, we will not change Liberia. If we keep electing the same politicians, with the same experiences, Liberia will not change.”
Earlier, Mr. Jeremiah Sulunteh, a former Ambassador to the United States of America and Mr. Cummings’ vice standard bearer described the launch of the campaign as the dawn of a new day. “We have come to Maryland on this historic day to begin the forward march for the total transformation of our country. We have come to Maryland to begin to write a new narrative for the Republic of Liberia, to take the political step, to take a break from the past and look to the future. We, at this time will like to take a break from the past, it does not mean everything from the past is wrong. Those issues that are right for the forward march, we will take along, but it is time to leave behind the excess baggage of corruption, nepotism, backwardness.”
The Harper launched capped a massive tour of the Southeast for Mr. Cummings and the ANC that came through Rivercess, Sinoe, Grand Kru and Maryland County. The tour is expected to go through Zwedru, River Gee, Grand Gedeh County, Nimba and Sulunteh’s hometown in Bong County as well as Lofa.
But in Harper Saturday, it was about the launch of what Cummings says is the beginning of a transformation of Liberia. As the local band blazed sounds of celebration, the thousands of supporters led by Takun J, sang and danced to his hit song, “They Lied to Us’, trumpeting a line that is expected to be a regular on the campaign trail for Mr. Cummings and the ANC, as they look to separate the past from the future as he embarks on a quest for state power.