Murray update….
-due to arrive by
HEALTH MINISTER Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told the Guyana Chronicle late yesterday that the government will be facilitating the charter of a flight to bring Jamaica-based neurosurgeon, Dr. Ivan Crandon, and a medical team here tonight to attend to Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) member of parliament and presidential hopeful, Mr. Winston Murray.
Murray, who collapsed Thursday evening and had to be rushed to the hospital, remains unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where his condition is still listed as critical.
According to a GPHC statement, a CT-scan revealed that Murray is dealing with severe haemorrhage of the brain.
Murray reportedly suffers from hypertension and diabetes, and neurosurgery is said to be an option once his condition stabilizes.
Ramsammy spoke of Murray’s present condition and the risk of moving him across the Caribbean to seek medical attention as was initially planned. “I do not think the doctors would recommend moving him right now,” he said, adding that Dr. Crandon is in constant contact with the consultant physicians in internal medicine and neurosurgery at the GPHC, in whose care Mr. Murray has been entrusted.
Said the minister: “Even though the medical team at the GPHC was ready and was on standby to operate on Mr. Murray, the team of doctors at the GPHC and the Balwant Singh Hospital, in consultation with Dr. Crandon, agreed that surgery was not possible, and that it was best to have Mr. Murray managed medically through life support.”
Dr. Ramsammy added that both Murray’s family and his party colleagues have been included in these discussions.
“The medical providers at the GPHC and private physicians in Guyana have worked together and they have consulted with Dr. Crandon and other colleagues. The doctors have been very open, and have not sought to hide the severity of the clinical condition of Mr. Murray from his family or his colleagues,” Ramsammy said.
Noting that the government is saddened by Murray’s illness and will continue to offer whatever support it can to him and his family, Dr Ramsammy said:
“As Mr. Murray struggles for his life, we wish for a positive outcome. Mr. Murray has been an important public servant for decades, and has made significant contributions to our country.”
And refuting reports in other sections of the media that there are differences between Guyana’s two main political parties over the best course of action to take with regards to Murray’s illness, Dr Ramsammy said in essence that besides being a misrepresentation of the facts, the timing for peddling such mischief is poor in taste.
“This is the time for all Guyanese to rally behind a statesman, it is not a time for politics.”
He however gave the assurance that all that can be done is being done to ensure Mr. Murray gets the best help available.
“We all pray for the full recovery of Mr. Murray,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, the PNCR in a statement Friday said: “The PNCR, medical personnel and the Government are making every effort to ensure that he receives the best possible medical care at this time.”
The 70-year-old economist and practicing lawyer was rushed to the Balwant Singh Hospital Thursday evening after he collapsed at Houston outside a lotto booth, before reaching his home at Continental Park, East Bank Demerara. He was subsequently taken to the GPHC.
Murray had only hours before left the National Assembly, where he made a stirring presentation during a debate over the Amerindian Act 2006 (Commencement) Bill 2010.
Murray studied law in the Caribbean, was trained in London as an economist, and up to the time of his illness, the consensus among his peers was that he stood a good chance of  being leader of Guyana’s main opposition party.
Within the PNCR, Murray was up against PNCR Vice-Chairman, Basil Williams; Retired Brigadier, Mr. David Granger; and former minister, Dr Faith Harding for the presidential candidacy.
Since his illness, several of his political colleagues, on both sides of the House, have gone to see him at the hospital.