Dear Editor,
The Stabroek News article entitled ‘Stop the suicidal tendencies, Eric Phillips urges PNCR’ did not fully capture the essence of what I said at Winston Murray’s funeral service at St George’s Cathedral a week ago. As you know, I am not a member of any political party in Guyana. The essence of my speech, which was geared to the PPP/C, PNCR, AFC and civil society, was that Guyana needed “servant leadership.” Below is an excerpt of my speech so that the full context of what I said is understood by all.
“…Winston’s life was and will continue to be a living testimony of goodness, of service, of hope and of integrity.
“There is a saying in the Bible that states ‘good men must die, but death cannot kill their names.’ Winston Shripal Murray bore no malice in the political jungle of Guyana and no one can kill his name.
“Winston was a servant leader, which meant, he served others. This is in dire contrast to politicians in Guyana today who arrogantly and barefacedly want people to serve them. A servant leader and a quiet passionate son of the soil, Winston wanted to see a prosperous multi-racial, multi-cultural, just democracy in Guyana, and was striving for just that when he was suddenly taken away from us.
“He saw our acclaimed ‘bringing democracy back to Guyana’ as a mockery of spirit, intent, and reality. ‘Death in its own way has its own democracy.’ As we can see from the multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural audience in this church today as well as at our wake for Winston last night at ACDA, people of all races, colour and ages voted with their hearts to be here to witness Winston’s homecoming.
“Winston is what democracy stood for: governance by the people, for the people and on behalf of the people. Democracy demands leadership, on and behalf of the people. Today in Guyana, democracy is a shattered dream, a living nightmare for most, when it should be a ‘living will’ of justice, equal opportunity and tolerance. Our promise of democracy has become a political, cultural, social and economic nightmare. Is this democracy? Rule for the few by the few?
“No one should question the timing of Winston’s death, as death is inevitable and we are all equal in its presence. Winston is gone… perhaps gone too soon… because he chose to lead, even at his advanced age and medical challenges. He was to some the hope in seeing a racially healed society, but as Martin Luther King Jr reminded us: ‘We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.’
“Who will take Winston’s place? Who will honour him by ensuring his legacy is permanent and his dreams realized? Many of those who want to lead us… only have a vague understanding of what a president should do to make this country racially at peace with itself and enormously prosperous.
“Today in Guyana, ordinary citizens live in an atmosphere of fear. Our women live in an atmosphere of fear. Our children, because of rape and other human excesses, live in fear
Guyana needs a new type of leadership… and Winston Murray raised his hand to provide it. Now that Winston is gone, who will provide this new leadership? Why will those who can really lead not step forward?
“Is it fear of death? Or fear of life? Why is there so much selfishness? If it is fear, then they are dead while they live, for cowards die many times before their death. Again, it was Martin Luther King Jr who said: ‘He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He, who accepts evil without protesting against it, is really cooperating with it.’
“I say to all who have been gifted with the skills to lead Guyana to become ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny,’ to accept your destiny without fear, without compromise. We need less politicians and more leaders.
“Let Winston’s life be a clarion call for the few good men and women to come together to ‘cleanse this country of the cancer of racism, authoritarianism, corruption and indifference.
There are many ruling us who believe it is their birthright to do so…
“Let me say this to the PNC: Now is the time to heal. Now is the time to stop the suicidal tendencies and self destruction of the last several years.
“Let Winston’s blood be redemptive. Guyana, let today be a turning point in our history. Now is the time for ‘grace.’ Grace is about forgiving each other. Guyana, now is time for us to say no to politicians and racial entrepreneurs who seek to divide us so they can plunder and rape our resources, our hearts, and our minds.
“Guyana, now is the time for our grace, and their disgrace. Now is time to stop our political and emotional illiteracy. Politicians need to give life back to the people of Guyana. And Guyanese need to stand up and demand it. As Winston lies in front of us. Now is the time for the PNC to become part of a ‘grand coalition.’ Now is the time for new leadership: ‘servant leadership.’
“Serving others is the essence of servant leadership. Serving others is the essence of democracy. Leadership is a journey, a journey of service. But before one can lead, one must learn to follow.
One must follow the goodness of the ‘heart.’”
As you can see from my speech, I hope all political persons in Guyana start to serve Guyana first and not themselves. Start to serve us instead of wanting us to serve them.
Yours faithfully,
Eric Phillips
