2024-08-05 23:22:46
A new complaint has emerged, revealing internal problems in the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA), a key entity of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, essential for agrarian reform and other efficient land use programs promoted by the government of President Gustavo Petro.
Former officials who have been declared redundant claim that they were unfairly removed, while another group denounces workplace harassment, pointing out that certain workers remain “stuck” in their positions despite changes in government. These accusations have generated growing discontent, especially because the director of the UPRA, Claudia Liliana Cortés, is the wife of the Minister of Finance, Ricardo Bonilla, which has fueled suspicions about possible conflicts of interest.
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Claudia Liliana Cortés, who has extensive experience in the public and agricultural sectors, was appointed director of the UPRA in 2023, under the management of Jhenifer Mojica as Minister of Agriculture. However, her appointment has been questioned because, despite having been selected for a high-level position (professional grade 22), she requested a 90-day extension to assume it, claiming that she was “supporting the government program and the sectoral bets of the Minister of Agriculture.” This request was accepted, something unusual according to sources from the entity, who argue that in other cases it is required to assume the position immediately.
The discontent within UPRA has also become evident on social media, where employees close to the Petro government have used the hashtag #AbusosUPRA to denounce the loss of labor rights. One of the points of controversy is the alleged imposition of a list of voters to elect employee representatives on the Personnel Commission, which has been interpreted by some as an attempt to manipulate the process.
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In April, a group of employees, through a union, presented the director with an 83-point list of demands, demanding improvements in working conditions. However, negotiations failed to reach an agreement, and the results of a psychosocial test applied to the employees have not been disclosed, according to UPRA, because they were “confusing.”
Among the most notable cases is that of Felipe Silva, a retired employee who sued the UPRA and the Ministry of Agriculture for violation of due process and malfeasance, alleging that his dismissal was due to ideological reasons. Another official, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that there is a “leadership” of employees at the UPRA that has survived several governments, controlling the entity from within.