The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), last Thursday  hosted an ‘Evening of Reflections’ on the Life and Legacy of Mr. Winston Shripal Murray CCH, MP, at Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown –  the headquarters of the Party he served for more than 30 years.
The programme brought together an appreciably sizeable gathering of mourners and sympathisers , representatives of political parties, and others.
Among those assembled and offering condolences to widow of the deceased, Mrs. Marva Murray, and family, were Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin;  Chairman of the PNCR, Baisheswaar  ‘Cammie’ Ramsaroop;  General-Secretary,  Mr. Oscar Clarke; and other members of the Central Executive and  the wider membership of the Party.
Amidst expressions of sympathy,  glowing tributes and treasured recollections of Mr. Murray, he was remembered as a nationalist, a noble son of the soil, one who lived a life of quiet dignity and  worthy of emulation, a model parliamentarian, especially admired for his impassioned participation in Parliamentary debates.
Heading the tributes and sharing of reflections were members of the Central Executive of the Party, Party representatives from the various administrative regions, while others still had words of appreciation for his  contribution.
Chairman Cammie Ramsaroop remembered  the fallen Guyanese as  ‘a man of  impeccable and unimpeachable principles’.  Possessed of passion and a sense of principle, he was one with compassion for the small man, and reached out to the poor, uneducated and ignorant.
Inspired by the standards Murray had set through the years, Ramsaroop conceded that the fundamental lessons from his life, for all Guyanese to display, are unity, peace, hope, leadership  and redemption.
And leader of the  PNCR, Robert Corbin, recalled that Murray was a devoted and dedicated  member of the PNCR, a nationalist and dedicated public servant who served with distinction at various levels.
“In our party, he demonstrated that service to the people was always important, and remained loyal until the time of his death,” the PNCR leader said.  He added that Murray remained steadfast in season and out of season …
“ He walked with us and died in the forefront of the struggle, making a reality of Martin Carter’s poem:  ‘Death  must not find us thinking that we die’.”
Corbin, also a politician and Attorney-at-Law,  recalled that Murray who, during his early career, had been a lawyer, was an adaptable person; he had vision and  intellect and diverted from the law to engage in full-time political work.  He served all three leaders of the PNCR in succession.
And to Mrs. Marva Murray, the sorrowing widow, Corbin  urged that she take solace in the fact that her husband’s was a life well spent. He  made full use of his time on earth,  and indeed, ‘has left us foot prints in the sand.’
Mr. Vincent Alexander , another celebrated  stalwart of the PNCR, added that all Murray’s  actions were informed by loyalty to the party.  “He joined the People’s National Congress [more than 30 years ago] in response to a call… similarly, he died responding to a call.”
“In Winston Murray we had one who was not a ‘fly by night’ but indeed a Burnhamite,” Alexander affirmed, noting that Murray was a patriot who contributed immensely to Guyana . Alluding to Murray as a gentleman, yet firm, stern, and focused, Alexander submitted that Guyanese should  take solace in the fact that Winston Murray lived for a cause and died for a cause.  He called on Guyanese to emulate that lifestyle.
And PNC General-Secretary, Mr. Oscar Clarke noted: “The senior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the PNC Administration has made a lasting impact on Guyana today –  not only to the party he has served for over 30 years, but to the country as a whole.”
“He left many positive marks on Guyana which are all testimony to the quality of man he was,” Clarke noted.
The General-Secretary disclosed that several diplomatic missions and overseas-based well-wishers had sent letters, e-mail and telephone calls expressing profound sympathy on the passing of the late statesman and stalwart of the People’s National Congress – a man who had made an indelible mark on their lives. Murray will be missed for many things, but most of all for his impassioned participation in Parliamentary debates.
Ms. Malika Ramsey, who chaired the evening’s programme, acknowledged  Murray’s significant works in the People’s National Congress Reform and as a public servant.