A year after the devastating fire that claimed the lives of former D’Abadie/O’Meara MP Lisa Morris-Julian and her two children, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has disclosed key findings from the investigative report while declining to make the full document public.
The December 16, 2024 tragedy at the family’s Farfan Street, Arima residence resulted in the deaths of Morris-Julian, who served as minister in the Ministry of Education, her 25-year-old daughter Xianne Julian, and six-year-old son Jesiah Julian. Autopsy results confirmed all three victims succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Minister Alexander revealed the investigation uncovered no evidence of foul play and exonerated fire service personnel who responded to the emergency. The report, completed in June 2025 under the previous administration, determined the fire originated in a specific area of the home, with investigators satisfied regarding its probable cause.
“A Cabinet-level decision was made that the report not be made public,” Alexander stated, “as we didn’t want the deceased family to relive those tragic events on that unforgettable day.” He emphasized the government would share details with surviving family members upon request but would not proactively distribute the document to avoid causing further distress.
The investigation was prompted by conflicting accounts between the fire service and then-public utilities minister Marvin Gonzales regarding water availability during firefighting efforts. A three-member committee comprising safety experts and legal professionals was appointed to examine response times, water supply issues, and arrival/departure logs of emergency crews.
Family members expressed mixed reactions to the developments. Morris-Julian’s uncle, James Purcell, stated he would “believe it when I see it” regarding the exoneration of fire services, emphasizing that hearing statements from officials and seeing actual evidence remained different matters. The family plans to commemorate the anniversary with a parang celebration near the destroyed home, seeking to remember their loved ones “in a joyous way” rather than through solemn observance.