By: Staff Writer
Prominent Liberian politician and former corporate executive, Alexander B. Cummings, has offered his perspective on the recent debate surrounding President Joseph Boakai’s use of private jets for official travel. Cummings, drawing on his extensive background managing private air fleets in his previous senior roles, emphasized the practicalities of high-level travel while acknowledging the public’s understandable concerns.
In a candid statement, Cummings articulated his understanding of the demands on a head of state’s time.
“As someone who’s worked at a very senior level before and therefore flew and managed a fleet of private jets, I understand the value of time—especially for someone in charge of running a country,” he remarked.
He argued that spending 10+ hours in airport lounges, dealing with long layovers and unreliable connections, is inefficient when that time could be dedicated to critical governance, both domestically and internationally.
Cummings distinguished between short, direct commercial routes and longer, more complex journeys.
He suggested that flights from Monrovia to nearby capitals like Accra, Abidjan, or even Nairobi are commercially viable options.
However, for destinations requiring extensive transit and prone to delays, such as Abuja or New York, he stated, “flying private isn’t about luxury—it’s about efficiency and effectiveness.”
Despite his pragmatic view on executive travel, Cummings did not shy away from addressing the optics of the situation, especially given Liberia’s socio-economic challenges.
“Let’s not pretend the optics don’t matter.
Liberia is still struggling. People are hurting, and when the average person can’t afford a decent meal or basic healthcare, seeing leaders fly private can feel like a slap in the face,” he conceded.
However, Cummings posited that the core issue is not the mode of transport itself, but rather the country’s overall performance.
He asserted that if Liberia were experiencing significant progress—marked by real change, better services, job opportunities, and a sense that their future was finally looking up—the public discourse on the President’s travel would diminish.
He even suggested that in a thriving nation, investing in a government-owned aircraft for official use, with the option to lease it out when not needed, could be a sensible approach.
In conclusion, Cummings underscored his belief that the focus should remain on tangible outcomes for the Liberian populace.
“At the end of the day, what matters most isn’t the flight—it’s the results,” he declared.
“If the President is focused on delivering real progress for the Liberian people, then how he gets to the next meeting becomes a lot less important.
Let’s keep our eyes on what really counts: performance, not just perception.
