More than 800 students in Trujillo Alto, Loíza, Carolina and San Juan will lose school transportation starting Wednesday, November 11, because Tatito’s Transport says the Puerto Rico Department of Education owes it hundreds of thousands of dollars, leaving the company without the liquidity to keep operating. The family-owned firm, which has 28 drivers and served those towns for 40 years, made the claim publicly.
"They have taken us to the point of total illiquidity," said Reynaldo Molina, son of the owner of Tatito's Transport.
"They have taken us to the point of total illiquidity," said Reynaldo Molina, son of the owner of Tatito’s Transport. Company representatives said students are the most affected and repeated that they no longer have the resources to continue operating. School transportation providers in the sector issued a collective call for the Government of Puerto Rico to take immediate action on the unpaid amounts.
Secretary of La Fortaleza Jean Peña Payano responded at the weekly press conference, where he addressed the school transportation situation: "The money is there because it was budgeted. They should be receiving that payment once the Oversight Board authorizes it," Peña Payano said.