Lhicarsa Martínez Bernal family saga

Juan Antonio Martínez has been in Lhicarsa for 37 years; his son Víctor, 20, and his grandson Diego, since 2023

Juan Antonio Martínez is, roughly speaking, an institution within Lhicarsa. He has belonged to this house for 37 years, or in other words, more than half his life. He will retire early, but he still radiates enthusiasm and vitality to continue in the company that, through his efforts, has allowed him to support his family. Married, father of three children and grandfather of three grandchildren, he can boast of being an important figure for his people, who see him as an example to follow. In fact, his son Víctor Manuel Bernal and his grandson Diego José Bernal have continued their work career and are now part of the human team of the concessionaire of the street cleaning, collection, treatment and disposal of waste in the municipality of Cartagena.

The case of the Martínez-Bernals is not a rare occurrence within Lhicarsa, which, historically, has opted to encourage the hiring of women and men from the same family sagas. Of course, everyone starts from the bottom and promotes based on experience and training, which is at the company's expense.

Living legend

The 'Corporal', as Juan Antonio is affectionately known as a result of his time in the Armed Forces, knows the profession like the back of his hand, since he has held practically all positions from 1987 to the present, starting as a laborer cleaning and collection, to driver (1st Officer) of the urban solid waste collection service, his current occupation.

It works at night, when activity falls in the port city, its neighborhoods and its councils, since it is the most optimal and productive time to carry out its mission. At 10:00 p.m., he gets on the truck and begins his work day, which lasts until the end of the route. Finally, check the vehicle's levels and, if necessary, refuel the fuel tank and fill out the work report with the incidents that will then be resolved by the mechanical workshop, “which is always looking out for all of us,” he adds. Martinez.

He is also a direct witness of the evolution of this sector: “The beginnings were very hard because there were no containers and the garbage was collected by hand at the gates of the houses to deposit it in the hoppers,” he recalls, emphasizing his predisposition natural to collaborate “always” with the citizen.

Precisely, this will to cooperate, which he extrapolates to the rest of his colleagues, he has been able to transmit and instill in his two descendants, along with the 'obligation' of showing his face for the company and leaving the areas assigned in the report clean and tidy. of work. “What a greater satisfaction it is that people can talk about how we provide good service and are at their disposal,” she is proud.

On the right path

Víctor and Diego Bernal do go to Lhicarsa together, since they both start work at 6:00 am. The son, who joined the dealership in 2004, two days after turning 18, is a road sweeper driver and the grandson has been a cleaning laborer since last year – it is his first job. Every morning, the Bernals review the sector, as they call each scope of action, which they grant, which are usually different. It should be noted that the last time they met was during Holy Week, and they recognize that they like to work together.

However, the 'Corporal' maintains a contrary position, since he prefers to keep his distance, as a result of his work experience with Víctor. “Being my son, I am more concerned that he does the job well,” he confesses, before noting that, due to that degree of kinship, I have also “given him more effort, with all the pain in my heart.”

The Martínez-Bernal saga feels comfortable, happy and valued in Lhicarsa: “It is a job whose effort is reflected in the streets, the working conditions are very good and we get paid without delay every month,” explains Víctor Bernal, who has been in the company for 20 years. the dealership after previously working as a formworker. “I'm grateful,” he confesses.

Now it is his turn to guide Diego, who combines this work with his intermediate degree studies in Administrative Management. For now, duties are being fulfilled. An example of this is the help that the grandson gives to the elderly who ask him to throw the garbage in the container, demonstrating the vocation of public service that the 'Cabo' established. “It is a pride to see how my family does their job,” he says, and then remembers that “if they don't do it well, I am the first one to call their attention; “You have to be a bullfighter until the grave.”