Citizens of Sinje, Kinjor, Lofa Bridge and Gold Camp, Grand Cape Mount County, turned out en masse on Thursday, September 7, and gave a rousing welcome to the Standard Bearer of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Alexander B. Cummings, and entourage.
Cummings, accompanied by his Vice Standard Bearer, Counsellor Charlyne Brumskine, held town hall meetings in the various towns with hundreds of citizens in attendance. He lamented the deplorable living condition of rural dwellers due to the lack of basic, essential social services.
Elders, youth and women groups said, with the huge extraction of gold, diamond and other natural resources, citizens are lingering in abject poverty. They accused companies operating in the county of unfair labor practices, with no remedial action taken by the government.
Cummings empathized with the plight of the citizens, and said changing the “inept and corrupt” administration of President George Weah is absolutely necessary for Liberians to reap and equally benefit from the country’s resources.
Earlier, Cummings expressed gratitude for the massive turnout and warm reception given him in the towns visited, and reaffirmed his commitment, upon his election, to restore good governance and ensure that the country’s resources are used for the greater good of society.
In Kinjor, Cummings and entourage were met on arrival by hundreds of citizens, given the usual traditional welcome with white chicken and kola nuts, and entertained by masked dancers.
Elders, youth and women groups, including market women, and southeasterners from Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Sinoe, Rivercess, Rivergee and Maryland counties, pledged their unwavering support and solidarity to the presidential bid of the CPP on October 10.
The CPP Vice Standard Bearer, Counsellor Charlyne Brumskine, addressing the crowd, made a passionate plea to Liberians not to allow the selfish interests of any politician, including President George Weah, to supersede their strong desire for a better life.
Counsellor Brumskine traced her strong ties to Grand Cape Mount County through her fiancé, and said her election as Vice President of Liberia will bring immense benefits to the county.
She pleaded with Liberians, especially women and girls of voting age, to consider her as one of their own who will advocate and stand for the cause of women in Liberia.
Counsellor Brumskine cautioned, however, Liberians have choices in the October 10 elections: either stay in the current miserable and deplorable state or go back to the 12 years of strife and deprivation, or decide to change the life of suffering and poverty by voting for a competent, qualified and responsible leadership as the CPP, which is committed to the real change that will improve the lives of the vast majority of citizens.
The CPP Standard Bearer assured citizens of his genuine commitment to institute policies and economic measures that will improve the living condition of Liberians, restore basic infrastructure, including good roads, electricity, pipe-borne water, and improve the healthcare and educational systems.
In Lofa Bridge, Cummings held a town hall meeting with hundreds of citizens, including elders, women, youth, religious and motorcycle groups, who also spoke of the economic challenges and lack of basic social services in rural Liberia.
They pledged their unflinching support and solidarity for the CPP presidential bid and hoped a Cummings leadership will not disappoint and neglect them as other past and present administrations have done.
Cummings reaffirmed his sincere commitment to change Liberia, stop the widespread suffering, fix basic infrastructure and ensure even redistribution of the country’s resources and wealth for the greater good of the Liberian society.
He empathized with citizens of Grand Cape Mount County, which is blessed with abundance natural resources and beautiful beaches, and said the huge public outcry of suffering and extreme poverty is totally unacceptable.
Cummings and entourage also visited Gold Camp, where citizens spoke of the same difficult economic challenges facing rural dwellers and the need for new leadership that will ensure that the country’s resources and wealth are used for the greater good of society.
The CPP Standard Bearer ended his over eight-hour intense campaign in Gold Camp, Gola Konneh District, and returned to Sinje where he spent the night to continue his campaign on Friday in neighboring Bomi County.