By Latonya Roberts
Journal Staff Writer

Lunch vendors, who work with the Ministry of Education under the National
School Lunch Program, expressed their disappointment with the program.
Several lunch vendors came forward to reveal that they are taking money out of
their own pockets to fund the school lunch program. In addition, the lunch vendors
said they are not being paid properly and when they receive payment it is not
correct, nor do they receive reimbursement.
The Bahama Journal reached out to Education Officer Benita Adderley this week,
but she refused to comment on the matter.
However, on Thursday The Journal spoke with Minister of Education Glenys
Hanna-Martin and Permanent Secretary Lorraine Armbrister, who are aware of the
issue, but are working diligently to alleviate the problem.
The permanent secretary said, “The caterers are being paid. There are still some
persons that are being delt with, but the vast majority have been paid.”
Mrs. Hanna-Martin added, “Whatever they have spent and whatever they are owed
will be addressed. We are seeking a way to devise a methodology to ensure more
efficient payment of these vendors and whomever the ministry owes money to. It is
a very large ministry, but we are discussing how we can avoid gaps like this. We
are working to ensure that we don’t keep having this conversation about delays in
payment.”
Mrs. Hanna-Martin ended her statement by expressing her gratitude towards the
vendors.
“We are grateful to the vendors for holding the fort for us, during that time. We are
hoping that in the very near future we will not have this kind of conversation,” she
said.