The Editor, Sir:

I am responding to your article of Monday July 21 entitled 'Call for Kern info snubbed'.

A highly-placed Cuban diplomat, told me at an informal gathering, when the Cuban light bulb matter was first aired in Parliament, that significant amount of the bulbs which are 'missing' did not arrive from Cuba.

Weak point

The argument being used by Minister Clive Mullings not to table the report in Parliament or make it public, for fear it may prejudice the case against Kern Spencer et al, is a weak one.

Any accused person has the right of access to any exculpatory evidence that is available to the Crown and, if I were Spencer's attorneys, I would call the Permanent Secretary if such evidence is available but being kept hush-hush because it is politically expedient to keep it so.

Truthfully now, what is the Minster really afraid of?

The learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn, in her eagerness to have a successful prosecution, is erring when she claims that it is sub judice to discuss the existence of such a report.

If this report exists, the public, including Spencer's constituents are entitled to know its contents.

And that cannot be considered sub judice because a report does not constitute a discussion of the court matter. That the releasing of the report may lead to discussions is a totally different matter.

Remember that Spencer et al are innocent until proven guilty, and evidence that raises doubt to their culpability should be made available.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL WILLIAMS

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica