I refer to Mr. Malcolm Alli’s letter (Stabroek News, May 2, 2009) titled: “Town Clerk, Elmo Mayer conceived the Liliendaal Pump Station project”.

Allow me to say four sets of things:

First, Mr. Malcolm Alli’s experience, knowledge and sense of nationalism, if properly utilised by the State will be significant benefit to our country.

I hope and pray that the powers that be recognise that it is in their and the nation’s interest to not ignore the store house of knowledge that resides with patriots such as Mr Alli.

I compliment him for his letter as I did earlier, on the one from Mr Sohan.

The public and our youths in particular are now better informed.

Second, Town Clerk Elmo Mayer is a man I held in the highest of esteem and regretted his demise a few months ago. Apart from our official contacts Elmo Mayer was a personal family friend, much beloved and respected by us all.

Nothing I say would in anyway try to diminish the stature of this great man.

Only recently, I referred to him as the most competent, and honest Town Clerk in the history of the Georgetown Municipality.

Third, on the Downer Canal, I share Mr Alli’s recollection. I am jogging my memory and the records to ascertain how this canal derived its name.

Mr Alli may be correct – except to say this, it is an indictment on all of us, that after a mere three decades, our records do not tell the whole story.

I earlier asked the officer at City Hall under whose portfolio this type of work falls to advise.

Finally, the second paragraph of Mr. Ali’s letter has a not insignificant error, which I wish to correct.

It says that my earlier letter noted as follows: “The Liliendaal Pump Station was carried out under his (Green) ministerial stewardship when the PNC was in power in 1976”.

None of the above words are correct, since my letter said this, “while holding Ministerial office in 1976 etc, “quite a different formulation and imagery to stewardship and the PNC in power …It was an activity all concerned Cabinet members followed with keen interest.

Please, this even though directly related the canal and pump stations are separate structures.

Credit is due to Elmo Mayer as the public officer who entertained this important project.
HAMILTON GREEN