Dear Editor,

Linton Gordon, attorney for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) at the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry, is certainly very effective, because he is constantly on the offensive rather than taking the blows in defence.

He has every need to be. The evidence concerning the use of mortars in the 2010 operation could land his primary client, Major General Stuart Saunders, in court, answering very serious charges.

But, did he go too far in his allegation that Lloyd D’Aguilar committed an offence when seeking to explain, on the radio, the problems with the testimony of a witness?

The content of the witness statement that Lloyd D’Aguilar apparently disclosed improperly was nothing more than what had been repeated several times already at the enquiry. The testimony of that witness, yet to come, would be providing only corroboration of this already disclosed information. The information is already in the public domain, so Lloyd’s comment (repeating this same information) cannot surely be seen to be prejudicing the outcome of enquiry.

If we follow Linton Gordon’s argument, then almost nothing of the enquiry can be discussed until the findings are made public — everything is sub judice. This would surely be a travesty for the right to free (but responsible) speech. Is it time that enquiry Chairman Sir David Simmons took Gordon in hand?

Paul Ward

Kingston 7

pgward72@gmail.com