MP hailed for last efforts to save son: Morris-Julian died a hero

A Farfan Street, Arima resident who witnessed the house fire that killed D'Abadie/O'Meara MP Lisa Morris-Julian and two of her children on December 16 said Morris-Julian died the way she lived: as a hero.

The man, who spoke to Newsday on the condition of anonymity on December 17 at Farfan Street, said Morris-Julian had escaped the early-morning blaze but ran back inside her home to rescue her youngest child, Jesiah.

"She was right next to me when the fire was going on and then she just disappeared. It was then I realised that she went back into the house," the man said.

Morris-Julian's eldest child Xianne, 25, was also trapped in the house.

A relative told Newsday she heard the screams of Morris-Julian and Xianne from the burning house.

"I heard her (Lisa) screaming for help. Why did she have to (die) that way?"

The relative said Xianne was screaming for her father, Daniel Julian. He was injured trying to rescue her and remains warded at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

The boyfriend of one of Morris-Julian's daughters, who was also hospitalised on December 16, has been released.

Late on December 16, Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales chastised the TT Fire Service for its release, which said there was a lack of water on Farfan Street when fire officers responded to the blaze.

But resident Kern Daniel said he has got used to having no supply on certain days.

"I have been living on Farfan Street for the last five years and water used to come Monday-Saturday from 5.30 am-4 pm.

"Now it may come from 10 am for one hour and cut off. Sunday you don't get water at all. In the five years I am on this street, we probably got water about six times on a Sunday.

"We got accustomed to that. When Saturday comes, you fill up your water and you know when water comes (again) because you'll hear the toilet fulling."

Another resident called for an investigation into the Fire Services' response to the blaze.

"Calls were made to the Arima Fire Station at 5.36 am and 5.45 am on Monday morning.

"I am calling for an investigation as to whether there was the correct commanding officer in charge at the station at the time of the call. This situation cannot die and it is unacceptable."

Former Arima mayor Ghassan Youseph, who lives nearby, also called for an investigation.

"Lisa and I had our issues before, but we sorted it out and we became close. She even invited me to a dinner and I attended.

"I am deeply devastated at the events and I'm calling for an independent investigation into the events surrounding the deaths.

"If they (PNM) can allow this to happen to their own, what would they leave for me and you?"

Newsday also visited Carpenter's Hardware at Tumpuna Road South, Manuel Congo, where fire fighters were responding to a fire before they received a report that Morris-Julian's home was ablaze.

A man who spoke little English said the fire started in a food cart used to sell empanadas, and spread to a small building where he and others lived. No one was injured in that incident and Newsday understands the hardware store nearby has been closed for some time.