December 31, 2011 – The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it is “shocked and saddened’’ by the sudden passing of the mother of one of the senior members of the party.

Marcella David, a well-known retired public servant, died Saturday afternoon at her home in Grand Anse, St. George’s. She was the mother of Hon. Peter David, NDC General Secretary and Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture.

Other surviving relatives include her husband, popular businessman and owner of South Wind Cottages, Chasley David; and sons Phillip, Patrick and Paul.

“The NDC is shocked and saddened at the death of Mrs. David, who contributed in her own quiet, unassuming and patriotic way to the country’s development,’’ said Senator Arley Gill, Public Relations Officer of the National Democratic Congress.

“Mrs. David worked her way up the ranks of the public service to become Cabinet Secretary and served with professionalism in that position,’’ Sen. Gill added.

“She was also an active member of the Anglican Church community and together with her husband, provided various forms of material support to friends and even complete strangers who will visit their home and who will request assistance from them.’’

Sen. Gill and NDC Leader and Grenada’s Prime Minister, Hon. Tillman Thomas; as well as Deputy Leader and Finance Minister Nazim Burke, and other government ministers such as Denis Lett, Joseph Gilbert, Glynis Roberts, Sylvester Quarless and Glen Noel, either called or visited General Secretary David immediately on hearing the news of his mother’s death on Saturday.

Mr. David, who is a lawyer by profession, was also visited by members of the legal profession such as barrister Ruggles Ferguson and wife, Tamara Gill, as well as high-ranking NDC officials such as Deputy Chairman Stanford Simon, Assistant General Secretary Yvonne James, and founding-member and former chairman, Jerome Joseph.

“Honourable Peter David is someone who has stood with families in their time of bereavement,’’ Sen. Gill said. “We, as a party, are now prepared to stand with him in this great moment of sorrow. We express our deepest sympathy to the David family and especially to our dear friend, party comrade, government colleague and MP for the Town of St. George.’’