A newly established political party, known as the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), has formally dedicated its Headquarters in Congo Town, a suburb of Monrovia, and the induction of its Interim Leadership.
The party, according to its vision-bearer and political leader, Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, has come with a vision of sanitizing the political environment of Liberia. It hopes to do this by liberating the Liberian people from endemic and systemic corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and sectionalism, which have diminished the values of the Liberian nation.
Addressing the crowd at a program marking the formal dedication of the party’s national headquarters in Congo Town, Monrovia, Dr. Casssell pointed out that PLP is fully prepared to fulfill its mission to liberate the Liberian state and its people from the quagmire of poverty, disease, ignorance, and underdevelopment.
Dr. Cassell, who is widely respected in various communities across Liberia and in the Diasporas as a humanitarian, said PLP’s leadership would ensure that the political elites and other cunning politicians whose sole aims are to ascend to public offices and amass illegal wealth, do not repeatedly victimize, marginalize, and disenfranchise the vast majority of the poor in Liberia.
He made specific reference to the minority community including, but not limited to people living with disabilities in the Liberian nation.
Cassell made it loud and clear that people of the minority community are of concern to the PLP and its leadership because they have professional, technical, and other expertise despite their condition.
During the occasion, several physically challenged women, perfectly attired in the party’s color green and white T-Shirts, danced enthusiastically to the rhythms of some of Liberia’s traditional songs and drumbeats.
The PLP vision-bearer further asserted that people living with disabilities in Liberia constitute a consistent and truthful voting population. Still, politicians can only recognize them during electioneering eras, something he mentioned the PLP would change.
He maintains that Liberians face systematic challenges that undermine the little gains the country has made since its formation.
“Our economy is still struggling to get back on its feet. Unemployment is a major challenge, and to compound this, companies are still laying off workers. Our people are still spectators in their economy,” he declared amidst resounding applauds and chants of revolutionary slogans by the PLP supporters.
“Our education and health systems are challenged by inadequate domestic resource allocation, limited qualified and trained workforce, and poor service delivery especially for our rural communities and the most vulnerable and physically challenged groups,” he added.
The famous Liberian humanitarian told the massive gathering 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 as The Time Is Now and We Are Ready,” he emphasized.
Dr. Cassell added that his team is ready to assume the leadership and transform Liberia through collective and inclusive participation in the country’s governance.
“We are ready to advocate for and defend the rights of the poor and underprivileged. We are ready to lift Liberians out of poverty through values, added agriculture programs, and road connectivity. Liberians will be the drivers and not car loaders. We are ready to bring our private sector experience to the public sector and transform our service into industries to be efficient and effective in the delivery of quality services,” he emphasized.
Established and certificated in December 2020, Cassell pointed out that PLP seeks to become the alternative political party that will do all in its power to liberate the people from economic degradation, education paralysis, health immobility, and agriculture decadence through inclusive participation of Liberians, irrespective of their County of the origin or social status.
The party’s core beliefs of diversity and inclusivity are based on the conviction that collectivism is the progressive path to move the Liberian nation forward and that the party’s political ideology and/ or manifesto is built on six tenets which include Agriculture, Education, Health and Wellbeing, Employment, and Infrastructure Developments, with emphasis on improving Healthcare, Roads, Electricity, Water and Sewer and Human Resource Development.
These tenets, he maintains, are the critical elements in dignifying the lives of the Liberian people. For the country’s development, “To these, we pledge our total commitment,” he stated. He said the PLP is ready to reach out to all Liberians irrespective of their social-political or tribal affiliation to move Liberia forward.
At the historic occasion, the PLP vision-bearer officially inducted the Interim Leadership of the Party.
Those inducted include Mr. Wilmot Paye, National Chairperson, Mr. Tapple E. Doe, vice Chairperson for Administration and Finance, Mr. Alphonso Banda, Vice Chairperson for operations, and Mr. David W. Beyan, Deputy Secretary.
Others are Israel Maryoe, Vice Chairperson for Recruitment and Mobilization; Stephen Vorkpor, Assistant Secretary for Press and Media Relations. Carlos Tingba Edison, Acting Chairperson of the Youth Assembly, and Christiana Christopher, Vice-Chairperson for the Women Assembly.
Speaking after his induction, PLP Interim National Chairman, Mr. Wilmot Paye, told the surging crowds of enthusiastic PLP officials and supporters that the party will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the well-being of Liberians in its effort to gain state power.
Paye, a respected and tough-talking Liberian politician who is also a former University student leader, made it clear that PLP is fully prepared and ready for political business in Liberia.
Mr. Paye, who is also former Chairman of the erstwhile ruling Unity Party (UP), emphasized amidst tumultuous political battle cries by supporters that PLP will take the Liberian nation by storm and send shockwaves through the spines of the country’s political establishments.
According to the seasoned politician, “PLP is here to reassure Liberians, especially the disadvantaged people, that by God’s special grace, the politics of hypocrisy is about to change and that Liberia has no option except to embrace this new direction.”
“After many years as one of the strongest, credible, and most dependable voices of reason, I separated myself from the Unity Party on Saturday 20, February 2021. As you know, I took this ultimate decision not because it had been my desire, intention, interest, or wish to leave one political party for another. Still, 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,” Paye said.
“Yes, the time is now because for too long Liberian political parties along with their founders and leaders have professed to be what they are not. We have assembled here today to reverse this trend,” he stressed.
“Shortly, we will celebrate the rebirth of our nation. The long period of doom and gloom is only temporary,” Mr. Paye added.
According to PLP Chairman, unlike some political parties that adopt names and mottos, which their founders and leaders do not honestly believe in, the PLP will be different in conduct, attitude, behavior, actions, operations, decisions, and character.
“Under our chairmanship and with guidance from our Political Leader, Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, the PLP will represent its name, motto, vision, philosophy, founding principles, and our core values of Patriotism, Integrity, Accountability, and Transparency. The PLP cannot compromise these values,” Chairman Paye assured.
At the well-attended dedication and induction program, which was also graced by members of the diplomatic community, representative of political parties, and pro-democracy activists and institutions; among others, Mr. Paye said Liberians at home and abroad are yearning for a political party that will live up to the true meaning of its Vision, Philosophy, Founding Principles, and Core Values.
“The PLP is here to sanitize and purify Liberian politics, and the alternative to this is for Liberia to not continue on the path that only leads to poverty and misery,” he declared.
The PLP Chairman noted that politics had been misrepresented for too long. He is portrayed as a vehicle for promoting the selfish ambitions of corrupt individuals whose only motivation for entering politics is to exploit their nation.
“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,” he stressed.
Paye noted that the same traditional politicians that plunged Liberia into the current mess it is experiencing could not lead any true transformation.
“Liberia needs a different breed of politicians. We cannot afford to disappoint them,” he stressed.
The newly inducted Chairman paid gratitude to the PLP family for the explicit confidence reposed in him to steer the party’s affairs.
“With faith in God who alone knows the future, I accept this honor and pledge total commitment, unflinching loyalty and allegiance to the ideals, vision, philosophy, founding principles and core values of The People’s Liberation Party,” Paye declared amidst resounding applauds and revolutionary battle cries by party zealots and stalwart supporters.
Emphasizing “Liberation” as one branding word of the new Party, Mr. Paye went on to define the word in the following context in part “We must never allow 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 values, he declared.
“To liberate Liberia requires fresh, new ideas, practical and predictable approaches to tackling the problems of Corruption, Nepotism, Sectionalism, and Tribalism. I know that you are tired of promises that do not match your current attitude, conduct, action, and character. The question is not whether one administration will end in 2023 with the election of another. Let the debate rather be about how different Liberia’s governance system will be after 2023. We must never settle for anything below this.
When we liberate Liberia from the conspiring thieves that control and dominate our politics, we can change and 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, instead of being tiny light bulbs that shine on Capitol Hill and grow dimmer within our institutions, we can build political organizations that become floodlights across the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches. That is, when we liberate Liberia, citizens will trust their Government. Of course, public officials will account for their actions and inactions both during and after office. When we liberate Liberia, no Associate Justice or Judge will be unconstitutionally removed. No Associate Justice or Judge will be actively involved in politics. Justice will be served to all without regard to status.
When we liberate Liberia, then the raping of babies, young girls, and women will stop! Our schools will truly become learning centers equipped with all facilities, including playgrounds and feeding centers for children. When we liberate Liberia, governance will improve. When governance improves, Liberia will become productive and competitive. Lawmakers will not become lawbreakers.
When we liberate Liberia, the current monetary uncertainties will vanish. The Central Bank of Liberia will cease from being a channel for looting donor and public funds. The commercial banks will be worthy of trust, and depositors will use our banking system without the fear of being robbed.
When we liberate Liberia, Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of subordinate courts will dispense justice without fear or favor. Liberians will hope again, and their hope will have meaning. Yes, when we liberate Liberia, political parties will cease from being vehicles through which the selfish agendas of thieves and their associates are promoted.
When we liberate Liberia, Liberian NGOs will no longer collude with elements within the Donor Community to exploit Liberians in the name of providing services and making interventions that do not address the needs of our people. No funds intended for Liberia and channeled through national and international NGOs will be stolen.”
PLP Chairman Paye paid glowing tribute to the “Exceptional humility” of the party’s founding chairperson, Tapple E. Doe. “It is uncommon in Liberia for anyone to painstakingly go through the exacting task of organizing a political party and have another ascend to its chairmanship,” he told the gathering.
About the Vision Bearer
Dr. Daniel E. Cassell is a devoted Christian happily married to Mrs. Bindu Coleman Cassell with six children born into their union. He graduated from the A.M.E. Zion High School on Benson Street, Monrovia, in 1984, and during the break of the civil war, he was rescued by seafarers and taken to France through the Ivory Coast. He later went to the Netherlands, and after spending about five years in Europe, he traveled to the United States, where he has been for over 30 years now. In the United States, he worked hard towards his education and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from the Temple University in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Cassell also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from A.T. Still University in Missouri. He also holds a Master’s and Doctorate Degrees in Clinical Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine from Northcentral University in Prescott, Arizona.
Dr. Cassell is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania and Licensed Clinical Drugs and Alcohol Counselor in New Jersey.
He has merited National and International Certificates scores as an Advanced Addictions Professional, Certified Co-occurring Disorder Professional, Certified Family Trauma Professional, and Certified Sex Offenders Treatment Specialist.
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