Hope television does justice in coverage of enquiry

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I WAS very pleased to hear that the Commissioners had decided to allow television cameras, reversing a decision with which I strongly disagreed.

The argument heard on at least one talk show that there were empty chairs, so people who wanted to attend could do so, hence there was no need for television coverage, was patently fallacious.

The Enquiry is dealing with issues of the greatest importance to Jamaicans, the vast majority of whom cannot attend in person because they have to go to work and/or they live far from Kingston. If those who wished to attend did attend they could not all be accommodated.

I hope that the television stations will give the public the maximum possible benefits of the decision.

Instead of only a brief clip at news time, let us have as well a longer edited version of the day's proceedings - say at 10 p.m.

I was disappointed, however, that the Commissioners gave each witness what appears to be an unqualified power to veto television coverage of his/her evidence.

It appears that the practical value of the decision will be determined by the witnesses.

I would have preferred if the Commissioners had reserved to themselves the right to decide whether sufficient reason was shown by the witness. I still hope they will do so.

I am, etc

DENNIS GOFFE, Q.C

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