Horticulture officials apologise to Michael Syiem

SHILLONG: The Horticulture Officer of East Khasi Hills and his sub-ordinates have apologised to the president of Forever Young Club, Michael Syiem, for the leaked application that Syiem had sent to them.
The letter seeking financial support for the 15th edition of Shillong Wine Festival, was leaked from the Whatsapp group of the officers and landed on social media.
Syiem wrote in the letter, “the festival attracts many ‘terrorists’ both domestic and foreign”, when the word should have been ‘tourists’.
The typo put the president of Forever Young Club in a spot and he had to apologise on social media.
The district officers in a letter of apology to Syiem said they have a close-knit group on Whatsapp comprising a few District Horticulture officers and it was created for official purposes.
The apology letter also mentioned that at times, they share messages other than official materials but those are meant for group members.
“Unfortunately with no intention to malign or tarnish the image of your organisation, your letter of application was leaked from the group and landed on social media,” the letter said, adding, “It is a lesson learnt for the group.”