Dear Editor,
During this season of national and regional elections we are see a lot unfolding right before our eyes, but when persons resort to impersonating others for reasons unknown it becomes very personal. It was recently brought to my attention that someone had created a Facebook account in my name, and though it was not spelt entirely correctly, it still had sufficient personal information to cause relatives, friends and colleagues to think that the remarks had been generated by me.
I would like all to know that the comments which are being posted under the Facebook name Dane Hartly, who claims to be working at the Ministry of Agriculture, are a total fabrication and may have been created to tarnish my name, or else the author is too cowardly to speak for themselves.
According to my knowledge there is only one Dane Hartley employed at the Ministry of Agriculture, and that would be me. I have never had and at present do not have a Facebook account, which makes all remarks and comments posted under what is supposed to be my profile totally untrue. In addition I was never politically inclined and see no need for these comments to be posted by person(s) claiming to be me. If I wanted my political bias to be made public I would do so myself.
I am professional and man enough that if I have something to say or take a position on, or if I have a cause to stand up for, I can do so in the open without having to hide behind someone else‘s unblemished professional character.
I would advise that whoever this person(s) is who is doing these postings they should stop, since it is doing no justice to their own character.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Dane Hartley
Veterinary Officer