By P. Lincoln Nyanrue Jr., elincoln1986@gmail.com
“It is time for new leadership in Liberia,” says Liberty Party Standard-bearer Charles Walker Brumskine. He made the statement in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County where he went Saturday, July 19th, on his campaign trail.
Cllr. Brumskine promised Grand Gedeans Saturday that he will instill “better leadership when elected” by the people of Grand Gedeh and Liberia. He said, the time has come for “people who have vision for the country to lead in order to change the country positively.”
Barely two days to the declaration of camping for this October 10 2017 elections, Cllr Brumskine said his visit to Grand Gedeh and other counties is to inform Liberians that his running mate Harrison S. Kanwea has been certified by the National Elections Commission. Karnwea was earlier ban by the NEC on account of Code of Conduct violations.
“Special emphasis will be placed on developing the southeastern region,” Brumskine proclaimed. “We have to build the road, but we have to create special incentives for development to come to this region so that southeasterners will be able to find jobs.”
The Liberty Party standard bearer said when elected will ensure increment in civil servants salary, free and institute compulsory primary and secondary education and grades 9 and 12 will be afforded free of West African Examination fees. He did not say whether the government under his administration will pay for all WAEC exams for 9th and 12th graders throughout the country.
He also promised mobile clinic in all seventy three electoral districts of Liberia, load for marketers, job facilities and pave road with strong emphasis on Southeastern Liberia.
He stressed that Liberians have suffered tool long because of corrupt leaders, indicating with the natural resources like iron ore, gold, diamond, fresh water, and timbers the country still counted among poorest nations in the world.
Cllr. Brusklin who received worm welcome from citizens of Grand Gedeh County on Saturday, July 29, 2017 like “Jesus arrival in Jerusalem”, praised the turn out and said it illustrates change that Liberians want in the upcoming October elections.
This election when held successfully will be the first democratical election where sitting government will turn over power to next government in Liberia for over seven decades.
The Liberty Party boss traveled along with two representative candidates on his party ticket – Camie V. Charrafidine of Tchien Electoral District #1 and T. Wilson Gaye of Gbarzon Electoral District #3 to Gedeh County.
However, Brumskine criticized Unity Party led government for its failure to fight corruption and used the occasion to plead with the citizens of Grand Gedeh County not to vote Vice President Joseph Boakai who he claimed received nine million United States Dollars annually for his office use and higher salary and incentives for law makers who are pledging their support to Boakai.
He said when elected he will reduce the salary structure of lawmakers, even that of the president home take to 30% for increment in civil servant salaries and improve healthcare delivery, pave road and standard education system.
Concluding, Cllr Charles Walker Brumskine urged eligible voters to elect people not on the basis tribe, section or handout but with developmental minds and qualifications to transform the country.
The Liberty Party standard-bearer last contested in the 2005 and 2011 elections and came 3rd and 4th respectively to Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Meanwhile, after losing 2011 election, Cllr Charles Walker Brumskine told Liberians that he has retired from politics but surprisingly re-surfaced two years later and declared his candidacy for the 2017 presidential and legislative elections slated for October 10.