Winston Murray passes away

PNCR Executive Winston Murray died at the Georgetown Public Hospital last night after 11 days in a coma; his passing inflicting a severe blow to his family, the party and the country.
Murray was pronounced dead at 7:20 pm by doctors at the hospital; he is said to have passed away while still on life support.

“We wish to announce the death of a friend, a comrade and a colleague. Winston Murray died at 7:20 this evening [yesterday] and it has been a very grievous loss to us,” party member, Ronald Austin told reporters outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital.

Murray was the stalwart in the party who was fighting for different causes, Austin said, noting that his death had stricken the party to the extent that it was not in position to offer a substantive statement last night.

Prior to the official announcement which came at around 8:20 pm, Murray’s wife, Marva accompanied by her son, Mark and other relatives were called to the hospital. There was a deafening silence as they exited the ICU one after another; faces grim and within a few minutes it got emotional.

“This has been very hard,” Austin said at the time of the announcement, summing up the visible sentiments of family, party members and friends of Winston Murray. Murray’s son wept openly while his mother, paralyzed with grief offered no comments.

Leader of the opposition and PNCR Leader Robert Corbin referred to Murray’s death as “a sad loss for the party and the country”. He said Murray had given loyal and dedicated service both in and out of government.

Corbin said that the party has been preparing to give Murray his “full honours and due respect” for the contribution he has made over the years. His comment came around 9:50 pm, shortly after he had arrived at the hospital to extend his condolences to Murray’s family and reflect on his life with other party members gathered.

Corbin said too that discussions with government with respect to any plans for Murray would likely take place tomorrow.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, in a statement last night, called Murray a dedicated Guyanese who served the country with distinction and dignity. He said the late parliamentarian was an outstanding citizen and fine human being, “resolute and firm in his convictions.

Winston Murray (second from right) at the High Court with (from left) late President Desmond Hoyte, Ronald Luckhoo and Rex McKay. (Stabroek News file photo)

“Mr Murray’s passing has robbed this country and especially the National Assembly of an articulate and intelligent debater whose presentations in the House were always of an exceptionally high standard.” The President noted that he was pleased to have always enjoyed cordial relations with Murray.

He recalled that Murray was not one to hold grudges or allow differences to be an obstacle towards the cultivation of genuine friendship. “I know how difficult his passing is for his family, and especially how testing has been the period since his hospitalization,” the President added.

Further, the Head-of-State extended his sympathies to Murray’s family, friends, supporters and the party.

Murray, 69, collapsed two Thursdays ago on the East Bank while standing in a line. He was then rushed to the Balwant Singh Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
It was later determined that he had suffered severe haemorraghing in the brain and remained unconscious. He was later hooked up to a respirator.

Guyanese neurosurgeon Dr Ivor Crandon was flown in from Jamaica last weekend on a flight chartered by the Guyana Government and he later said that there was no sign of brain activity and surgical intervention was not advisable.

Murray’s family and supporters then continued to mull what should be done and there was some talk of further tests being done