Paul Ying, of Y's Choice Wholesale in the vicinity of Cross Roads, discusses the price adjustment on basic food items with The Gleaner yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Some consumers will have to wait a week to benefit from a government subsidy on basic food items, which took effect yesterday. The subsidy is to ease the effects of rising costs on the poor.

A number of wholesale proprietors, who provide for the most vulnerable consumers, told The Gleaner that their old stock must be sold off before the roll-back prices take effect after they purchase new batches at the subsidised rates.

Under a $500 million initiative, Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, an-nounced last week that for three months a subsidy would be placed on five food items.

The items are counter flour, baking flour, rice, skimmed milk powder and bulk oil.

Mr. Samuda said yesterday that his ministry expected it would take a week before the subsidy prices take wide-scale effect.