UNC 'soldier' gets proper funeral, thanks to San Juan MP

A 65-year-old Princes Town mother went into shock last Tuesday when she read a post on social media saying her son, Dr Anderson Ancil Morris, had been found dead.

“How come you did not tell we your son passed away (sic)?” said Barbara Reveiro, of Kingsley Street as she recalled the question posed to her by a neighbour. Recognising the family was unaware of the death, the neighbour referred them to social media.

Morris, 47, a well-known UNC activist, was the personal assistant to the Barataria/San Juan MP, Dr Fuad Khan, who shared a post about the death.

Police found Morris’ body last week Thursday in the apartment where he lived at Railway Road in San Juan.

“I did not know he died. I have not spoken to him in years. After we checked Facebook on Tuesday, I called the office and they (staff) confirmed it.”

To make matters worse, Reveiro said the family is too poor to pay for a funeral. He was estranged from the family. He was not married or had any children.

“He had not checked us in a few years. He was a good person. We are not rich. Did you see the condition of my house?

"I signed up for a grant from (the National Commission for) Self Help about two years now and staff said it was approved. Now they are saying they have to implement it. I do not know what that means. This house could fall any minute now.”

Morris was the eldest of Reveiro's seven adult children. His elderly father lives abroad.

One of Morris’ sisters, Shelly Reveiro, 36, said relatives had not seen him for about six years.

“He lost contact with the family some years ago. He was a good person. Mum did not cry when she heard the news, but she almost collapsed. It was like she was in shock,” she said while at the family’s derelict wooden home.

“Every time I tried to get into contact with him on Facebook, he would change his name and profile picture.”

On Thursday Khan assured that he and his staff were arranging the funeral as well as paying the bills.

“I remember him in 1995 as president of the guild of UWI waving flags for (Basdeo) Panday at the Mid Centre Mall. That was before Panday became Prime Minister,” Khan recalled.

“After 2000, he and I got very close and he has been with me for the past 20 years. I will miss him. He helped a lot of people and was my personal assistant. This is my responsibility.”

An autopsy at the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James on Thursday said the cause of death was undetermined.

“It may have been cancer but they (staff) are not 100 per cent sure. He was dead for a week,” Khan told Newsday.

Khan on Tuesday at 2.52 pm via Facebook referred to Morris as his personal advisor and friend.

He also referred to him as a soldier in the UNC and a representative of the youth and the business community in the constituency.

“His personality and presence will definitely be missed. But I thank you, my friend, for the years of loyalty and dedication. May you rest in peace.”

Morris’ relatives thanked Khan and his staff for organising and giving him a proper send-off.