Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy said a discount grocery scheme has not been axed but reiterated that concerns have been expressed about its sustainability.

The initiative, announced in November’s Throne Speech, offers customers at the Island’s three largest grocery store chains a ten percent discount on Wednesdays if they pay in cash.

In a statement issued last week, Sen Fahy said he had received some concerns about the scheme from grocers, who “indicated that this initiative as it presently stands cannot be sustained after November 30”.

But Lindo’s co-owner Giorgio Zanol said the statement came as a complete surprise, while MarketPlace General Manager Gary Shuman said it would be premature to make any decision about the future of the programme. Both denied having raised concerns with Government about the initiative.

However, speaking in the Senate yesterday, Sen Fahy said the statement was merely intended to update the public about the one-year scheme and show them that the grocers were not gouging customers, not suggest that the initiative would be coming to an end.

“Probably what should have been said is that there have been concerns raised that it cannot be sustained, but in no way have we said absolutely this is going to end,” Sen Fahy said. “This is a one-year programme and I hope that after tomorrow’s meeting everyone comes to the table and says we would love to do another year.”

He reiterated that he had heard concerns about the potential impact of the programme but said he would be meeting with a group of wholesalers this morning and pledged he would update the public once the meeting is concluded.

He said: “There has been a concern expressed by a wholesaler that there are some concerns in respect of the discount and the knock-on effect, so we have to take those concerns into account, and that’s all. And that’s the same with . . . one of the grocers has said: ‘Listen, this is not sustainable long-term.’

“If I wasn’t as clear as I could have been, well, I apologise for that. I certainly in no means am saying this thing is definitely coming to an end. It’s a one-year programme.

“Obviously I would like to see it continue. All I’m looking to do is share with the public that there may be other things out there that may have to be explored based on some of by the feedback that I have had as Minister.”