Expertise not respected

I READ with mounting anger the article about the pending retirement of Dr Malcolm Smale (“Passion for marine life drives 40-year career”, March 16).

Smale have been working at Bayworld for the last 40 years.

He has offered to mentor the new scientists coming in – free.

You would assume that the management would burst into a song of praise. You would assume wrongly.

He was told, “Thanks, but no thanks. Go away.”

How can Port Elizabeth throw away such wealth of knowledge and experience? He has offered to mentor, to transfer knowledge, to help – and was rejected.

As long as we do not have respect for knowledge and expertise we will continue being the backwater little town that we are.

Ora, Port Elizabeth