The PNCR needs to stop its “suicidal tendencies” evident during the past years and seek to provide a new type of leadership to the country, ACDA’s Eric Phillips says.
While delivering a tribute on Monday during the funeral service for former PNCR Chairman Winston Murray, Phillips said that now is the time for the party “to stop the suicidal tendencies” evident over the past years and embrace a new culture. “Now is the time to heal,” he said, to applause from some of those gathered at the St George’s Cathedral.
Phillips, a senior member of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), said that a new type of leadership was needed and asked “Who will provide this leadership to the PNC?” He said “now is the time for the PNC to become part of a grand coalition”. Even as he called for this new leadership, Phillips stressed that servant leadership is necessary.
Speaking about Murray, Phillips stated that he had died before seeing his vision of a thriving multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious society coming to fruition. He said Murray was committed to bridging the racial divide. Murray, Phillips said, was dedicated to his country and served selflessly.
Prior to falling ill, Murray had been actively campaigning to become the PNCR candidate for the 2011 general elections. Last year he had unsuccessfully challenged current party leader Robert Corbin for the post. This challenge came months after Murray had resigned from the post of party Chairman.
While delivering the eulogy on Monday, Kads Khan said that Murray remained committed to the PNCR although he suffered from an “organized onslaught from a few within the party”.
Mervyn Williams, of the Murray Support Group, said that for Murray the unity of the party was of paramount importance. He stated that Murray’s decision to challenge for the party’s leadership and to be its presidential candidate was born out of a concern about the state of the party and a desire to ensure it regained lost ground.
