KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) Pearnel Charles Jr,  along with a team from his ministry, on Wednesday toured the MLSS satellite office located at the Castleton Health Centre in St Mary.

The tour was conducted to assess the operations and effectiveness of the ministry’s satellite offices in St Mary, engage with staff and beneficiaries, and identify opportunities to further improve the delivery of critical social security services to underserved communities.

The ministry’s satellite offices provide critical social security services to residents in surrounding communities through several of the ministry’s programmes, including the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Social Pension Programme and public assistance services. The establishment of satellite offices in St Mary forms part of the ministry’s continued thrust to increase access to social security services for vulnerable populations, increase accessibility by reducing the need for beneficiaries to travel long distances to access services, and to improve the efficiency of service delivery.

This initiative forms a part of the ministry’s larger comprehensive strategy to enhance the overall quality of life for beneficiaries and their families and to provide increased opportunities for education and skills development, leading to improved employability and economic prospects.

These offices became operational at the start of the 2023/24 financial year, with 26 satellite offices currently in operation across seven parishes. The ministry currently operates four satellite offices in St Mary, located at Castleton Health Centre operating every fourth Wednesday; Annotto Bay Community Centre operating every Tuesday, Gayle Health Centre operating every Thursday and the Rock River Health Centre operating every fourth Thursday.

Addressing Wednesday’s gathering, Charles Jr urged attendees to become ambassadors.

“If you know someone who is over the age of 75 years and hasn’t signed up for Social Pension or needs help from any one of our other programmes like PATH, please encourage them to visit one of our satellite offices or parish offices islandwide. We are our brother’s keeper, and we all must become ambassadors in ensuring that those who need these benefits the most, are assisted with them,” he said.

Members of the team accompanying Minister Charles Jr on Wednesday’s visit, included Minister of State Norman Dunn, Dione Jennings, permanent secretary (acting), Suzette Morris, director of social security, MLSS and Charmaine McFarlane, MLSS St Mary parish manager.