The Fernández administration owed school breakfast suppliers RD$120 million, as of 31 December. The suppliers said the government had promised to cancel the debt in September of last year, but did not do so. They decided to go public with their plight, since all efforts to get paid have not met with success. The suppliers have individually not cut off supplies fearing that the company that does so will not get paid at all. They mention the case of a leading milk processor who discontinued suppliers and is still waiting to get paid on bill of more than RD$6 million. Most affected are Parmalat Dominicana (RD$21 million in arrears), Leche Fresca, Bon Agroindustrial, Campolat, Ultrapasteurizadora Celia, Proyecto Ganadero Yzura, Lbpsa, and Planlesa. One of the most touted triumphs of the Fernández administration is the school breakfast program. The program is important because it is a major incentive to parents to send their children to school. The breakfast also better equips children for learning. The Fernández government has been criticized for contracting services that it has not been able to meet payments on. In the construction sector, several contractors have been known to have committed suicide when the government failed to meet payments.
