By Bill W. Cooper
The standard bearer of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), Simeon Freeman, lambasted the late Cllr. Charles Brumskine for doing nothing to improve the lives of Bassonians, despite making a lot of money while alive.
The MPC leader also disclosed that Cllr. Brumskine, while alive, took a whooping US$125,000 every three months from Mittal Steel as a lawyer, but failed to also recondition any of the roads in the county.
He made the assertion over the weekend, when he launched his Women Empowerment Loan Initiative, road rehabilitation, among other programs in the county.
However, some pundits expressed their disapproval over Mr. Freeman’s statement, which they termed as jibes thrown at the late Cllr. Brumskine’s daughter, Charlyne Brumskine, who has been relying on her father’s legacy to win votes for Mr. Cummings as his running mate, on the ticket of the Collaborating Political Parties during the pending October 10, polls.
They also argued that Mr. Freeman’s allegations is only intended to tarnish Brumskine’s legacy and call into question the family’s contributions to the community in his favor for votes purpose.
The late Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine, who was a renowned legal practitioner and former political leader of the already disarrayed Liberty Party (LP), commanded significant influence throughout Bassaland and the wider Liberian political landscape during his days on earth.
But Freeman also questioned Brumskine’s commitment to the welfare of the Bassa people, accusing the late lawyer of neglecting his duty to actively seek opportunities for development and progress, despite benefiting from lucrative legal arrangements.
Freeman, who is also one of Liberia’s renowned business tycoons, further claimed that Brumskine’s legal representation of Mittal Steel Corporation, which netted him the hefty sum, failed to translate into tangible improvements for the citizens of Bassaland.
He argued that such a significant financial windfall should have been utilized to address key issues plaguing the region, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Despite the mixed reactions on the faces of some Bassonians, Freeman stood firm in his criticism, citing the need for public figures to be held accountable for their actions whether they worked in government or not.
He also called for greater transparency from lawyers wanting public office in how funds obtained through legal representation are utilized, particularly when those funds come from corporations operating within the region through concession agreements.