The Central Sorting Office (CSO) on South Camp Road has officially reopened for business, following months of extensive renovation works on the facility.

A major part of the transformation involved the introduction of technological solutions to automate processes. The facility also received 16 desktop computers to improve efficiency and service delivery.

The project also included tiling, replacement of the counters and painting. The renovated facility will now serve as the blueprint for the new face of Jamaica Post.

Speaking at the reopening ceremony on Thursday, October 13, Postmaster General, Lincoln Allen, said the upgrade signals a major milestone, as the Post and Telecommunications Department (Jamaica Post) continues its efforts to modernise the country’s postal service.

Allen said the project underscores the Department’s commitment to improve the overall aesthetics and functionality of the location, while creating a more modern and comfortable environment for all stakeholders.

“This signals the beginning of a new era, one that we celebrate under the theme ‘the Rebranding of Jamaica Post’. The Department fully appreciates that the postal service, whether locally or globally, is in a constant state of flux. It is very dynamic, and in order to survive another 350 years or more there has to be a paradigm shift in our operations,” he emphasised.

In addition to traditional services, customers can access the new Premium Service Centre at the CSO Post Office. The Centre will provide a “centralised and corporate experience for customers”.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Daryl Vaz, commended the Department for the advances made in retaining the relevance of the postal service in the digital age.

“I believe this is an exciting time for the postal network, because technology opens tremendous possibilities for the inclusion of ICT in postal services,” the Minister said.

“Post offices are important socio-economic institutions, which provide significant linkages between the digital and the physical space. We would all agree [that] e-commerce and online shopping have become increasingly prominent in our society and the postal service is integral to aiding the delivery of many of these products we purchase online,” he added.

To date, 94 post offices across the island have received internet connection, which has resulted in these locations expanding their commercial services and reducing customer wait time.