Parliamentarian for AVP, Ing. Carlos Bermudez, has made a clear call for greater transparency, action, and accountability within the Department of Human Resources (DRH), emphasizing that respect for public employees is not a luxury but a structural necessity for the proper functioning of the government.
According to Bermudez, for several years, the message has remained the same: there is a need to bring back professionals to the public sector, retain the current workforce, and modernize and strengthen the DRH services. However, the reality many professionals face is far different.
During a public meeting, Bermudez shared his personal experience as a department director. He recounted how, during 7 years under the Wever-Croes I and II cabinets, he followed all DRH processes and advice to secure promotions for three professionals. But despite the recommendations being clear, the advice remained stagnant, and the process was delayed for over six years without a concrete solution.
“This is not a personal issue; it’s a systemic issue,” Bermudez expressed.
He also responded to public opposition claims (from the yellow party), firmly rejecting insinuations that his intervention was motivated by personal interest or that it was against DRH professionals. “I strongly condemn pseudo-professionals who use their position to harm others,” Bermudez declared.
As a concrete example, he mentioned the case of Mr. Tony Yearwood, a professional who, due to health reasons, could not attend work and as a result, did not receive his promotion in January 2019. Mr. Yearwood eventually went to court and won his case. According to Bermudez, this situation could have been avoided if human and respectful treatment had prevailed.
Bermudez pointed out that Yearwood’s case is not an isolated incident. Many public employees feel victimized by unfair treatment and unnecessarily prolonged processes.
“There are times when it seems that the department that should help employees is more willing to complicate the process than to facilitate solutions,” he said.
Bermudez made a direct call to the minister in charge of DRH to take immediate action. He proposed a comprehensive review of all pending cases, pointing out clearly:
() What cases are pending at DRH?
() What is causing delays in other departments?
He urged the ministry’s staff and advisers to work quickly to resolve these issues with urgency and transparency.
While Bermudez recognizes that many DRH employees carry out their duties with professionalism, he raised a legitimate question: “Who is responsible when cases remain stuck year after year while others are handled smoothly? Is it about friends and family?”
Bermudez emphasized that pseudo-professionals should not be allowed to harm others. “Enough is enough. We need real, sustainable improvement.”
The parliamentarian concluded that respect, transparency, and fair treatment for public employees form the foundation of an efficient government. “When professionals feel valued, the entire government apparatus benefits. This is for the common good
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