The Lower House of Parliament paid tribute to the late Lisa Morris-Julian, former Member of Parliament for D’Abadie/O’Meara, on Monday.
Mrs. Morris-Julian and two of her children died tragically in a fire at her Arima home last December.
A bouquet of flowers and a lit candle were placed on the desk in the Lower House in front of the empty seat once occupied by the former MP. Members of Parliament, wearing white corsages in her memory, observed a minute of silence.
In his tribute, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley described the former MP and Minister in the Ministry of Education as a gift to Parliament, a gift to the nation, and a gift to her family.
“For many of us, she was a light that was getting brighter. She was a beacon to more people in this nation, holding out a promise that we could be better and that our better selves were ahead of us. Lisa’s voice was a calming one. Lisa’s intellect was one of reason.”
Opposition Chief Whip, Member of Parliament for Pointe-a-Pierre, David Lee, acknowledged Lisa Morris-Julian’s commitment to public life and to her family.
“If there is one message that we can take from this heartbreaking event, it is that regardless of public life, career, or position, your duty to family goes until the very end, no matter the circumstances.”
Speaker of the House, Bridgid Annisette-George, said that as a former educator, Mrs. Morris-Julian displayed a devotion to the welfare of children. She recalled a visit by a Parliamentary Delegation to the National Assembly of the People’s Power of Cuba last August.
“Her love for education was evident during a tour of the special school, ‘Solidarity with Panama,’ as she interacted with both the teachers and the students. Member Morris-Julian was exceedingly impressed with the special needs education facility, and expressed her desire to pattern and emulate this model across the educational districts in Trinidad and Tobago.”
The Lower House also paid tribute to former Member of Parliament for Pointe-a-Pierre, William “Bill” Chaitan, who also passed away last December.