All hunky dory at Forestry

THE DIRECTOR of Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has played down a claim that many skilled people in his directorate are leaving and that this could leave it with nobody to do field work.

Joseph Hailwa said people were leaving all departments of the Ministry for other posts. “Even degree holders are leaving.Maybe for greener pastures.It happens in all departments,” he said.He said the exodus was not necessarily destroying the directorate, nor did it mean that there was something wrong.Hailwa said people in public service regularly moved from one position to another.Last week, a reader sent an SMS message to The Namibian, calling on Hailwa to investigate why so many diploma holders in his directorate were leaving.The message read: “Wake up Mr Hailwa (Forestry Director).Diploma holders are leaving the directorate.Can’t you see there is something wrong? Do something please or else we will be left with nobody to do field work.””Even degree holders are leaving.Maybe for greener pastures.It happens in all departments,” he said.He said the exodus was not necessarily destroying the directorate, nor did it mean that there was something wrong.Hailwa said people in public service regularly moved from one position to another.Last week, a reader sent an SMS message to The Namibian, calling on Hailwa to investigate why so many diploma holders in his directorate were leaving.The message read: “Wake up Mr Hailwa (Forestry Director).Diploma holders are leaving the directorate.Can’t you see there is something wrong? Do something please or else we will be left with nobody to do field work.”