On the official kickoff of the Collaborating Political Parties’ national campaign, its Standard Bearer, Alexander B. Cummings, has made a solemn pledge to prioritize Liberians’ interests above all else. In helping Liberians achieve their maximum potential in all spheres of economic ventures, he committed to annually setting aside US$10 million for business development and to build a strong private sector owned and controlled by Liberians.
Cummings said, “Over the next 66 days we will move all across our country, knocking on your doors, to ask you for your votes. This election is about all of us. For Liberians who have continued to suffer, especially through the last six years, we want to make October 10 the beginning of the end to the worsening hard times.
“We know that Liberians do not want to beg. Our people want to work. We want jobs. A Cummings-Brumskine administration will create jobs, decent and high-paying jobs.”
According to him, “Under President Weah, no serious international investor has come to Liberia to help us create jobs. In fact, some investors left because the government is too corrupt. Officials act lawlessly, and the president either does nothing or acts in a ‘419’ way to cover up stealing and abuse of public offices by his friends and closest officials. Decent jobs do not get created in countries where drug traffickers are allowed to walk free, accused persons are never prosecuted, and promised investigations for alleged crimes are never held.”
He vowed that a Cummings-Brumskine administration will fix this lack of leadership that is hurting the people and the nation, restore international confidence in the new leadership of the Liberian government and attract serious international investors back to the country.
“From business to entertainment, we will apologize to no one for Liberians succeeding. In fact we will make it easier for Liberians to succeed,” Cummings said.
He said there are businesses set aside exclusively by law for Liberians, and that a CPP government will not only enforce these laws, but will provide additional opportunities and incentives for Liberians to succeed in business, sports, movie, literature and other forms of arts.
Cummings said it is a disservice and a national disgrace for a government not to prioritize its citizens’ success, giving them false promise that they will not be spectators in their own economy, but only to end up throwing them outside the stadium.
“Every year, in a Cummings-led administration, we will provide loan facility for Liberian women businesses. We will provide training, mentorship and other incentives to guarantee the growth and success of Liberian businesses,” Cummings said.
The CPP Standard Bearer said a CPP government will support Liberian retailers to become importers, waiter market sellers become shop owners, and shop owners become store owners, in fulfilment of their dreams and hard work.
Cummings made reference to his upbringing from Point Four and Fiamah, two slum communities, to ascend to the top of a global company, and also his Vice Standard Bearer, Cllr. Charlyne M. Brumskine, a Bassa girl born in Yekepa, Nimba County, to have learned so well and succeed. Any child can succeed.
“In a Cummings-Brumskine administration, names, gender, religion and tribe will only identify Liberians. It will never be used to measure the capacity and potential of a Liberian to achieve anything they dare dream,” the CPP Standard Bearer said.
“After October 10, with your votes and election as President, we will support Liberian farmers to grow what we eat, eat what we grow and sell surplus to the world,” Cummings said on the official launch of the CPP campaign in Monrovia.
He said support to farmers will change from the traditional farming with hoe and cutlass to mechanized farming to boost food production and ensure food security.
“We have too long talked about going back to the soil and the green revolution. We have to act. We will make the required investments in agriculture and provide the necessary training in modern farming methods and technology,” Cummings assured.
He promised to move Liberia from an import-based economy to an agro-based export economy, that will add value to produce in agriculture, noting that “we will add value to our land, increase production, create jobs, increase exports and make Liberia food secure”.
He said a CPP government, will strive to limit shipment of Liberia’s raw materials and instead aggressively push private sector investment to set up manufacturing plants to use “our cocoa to make chocolate, our rubber to produce medical gloves, condoms, and car tires, and our palm oil to make creme and other health products”. Cummings embraced a record crowd at the CPP headquarters on Saturday, August 5, despite the heavy downpour of rain.
Cummings said his work experience in many countries, worldwide, enabled him to have built, managed and led teams comprising citizens of various nations, noting that Liberians are smarter and hardworking and can achieve anything.
The CPP Standard Bearer said what Liberia lacks is a visionary leadership, with the right mentality to truly put Liberia and Liberians first.