According to the company that leases the pontoon bridge across the Ozama River, the bridge might have to be closed because the government has not paid its rent on the equipment. According to former navy admiral and owner of the company Francisco Reynoso, the Public Works Ministry owes RD$2 million for the equipment rental. A ministry spokesperson, Leo Hernandez, told reporters from Hoy that Public Works had called for a meeting with representatives of various businesses to find a solution to the problem. Reynoso told reporters that his small company is not in any condition to carry RD$2 million in uncollected debts, but at the same time they were maintaining the bridge with borrowed cables and other equipment. Reynoso said his contract, which was signed in 2000, calls for a RD$70,000 payment for the operation of the floating bridge, which has to be moved to allow shipping along the river. Other experts say the RD$2-million sum is insignificant compared to the US$20 million that is owed to the firm that has held the contract to rebuild the Duarte Bridge for several years.