CASTLETON, ST Mary — Sixty-five-year-old Bill Robinson was at Castleton Health Centre on Wednesday seeking information on benefits the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) offers for the elderly.

The retired construction worker said he never made any contribution to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) when he was younger.

“I am a widower and I’m not working and I came here ‘cause I heard that there are benefits that I can receive,” Robinson told the Jamaica Observer. “I came to get the information to see if anything is there I can benefit from.”

Satisfied with the information he got and optimistic of his chances of getting financial support, Robinson said he would be back with the necessary documents when the satellite office is next open to clients. That will be the last Wednesday of next month. It is one of four sites in St Mary that are operated by the MLSS. There is one at Annotto Bay Community Centre every Tuesday, Gayle Health Centre is used every Thursday, and Rock River Health Centre every fourth Thursday.

For Robinson, having a satellite office within walking distance is a huge help.

“This right here saves me a lot of trouble [from having to] go into Port Maria and spend my fare, which I don’t have. And maybe when I go there I won’t get through but have to go back and I have to find the next money to go back, which I don’t have,” he explained.

He said it would have cost him more than $1,000 to get to Port Maria.

Carline Britton was equally enthusiastic about the Ministry of Labour having a satellite site in Castleton. She shared her frustration with past treks to Port Maria, trying to get herself and her granddaughter signed up for the Programme of Advancement Through Health And Education (PATH).

“I went there more than seven times because when I didn’t see it coming I had to go back to check up on it, and it was expensive,” Britton complained.

She finally managed to complete the process with help from staff at the satellite site.

“Mrs Green and Miss Higgins, they stayed on top of my application, and with their help I finally got through,” Britton said happily.

She was impressed by staff and thrilled that the site is within walking distance or a short bus ride away from many residents.

The satellite stations serve communities in remote areas, whose residents have a challenge accessing information directly from the parish office.

Parish Manager Charmaine White McFarlane commended her staff for manning the sites with professionalism, care and diligence. The visits to rural areas, she said, give them the opportunity to keep in touch with clients.

Services offered are the same as those available at the main office in Port Maria. The opening hours of satellite sites have been selected to align with heavy traffic at the facilities where they are located.

“On those days, more persons who use the clinics would take the opportunity to access our services on PATH, enquire on their pension, take in their life certificates, etc, as they would at the Port Maria office,” White McFarlane said.

Social worker Loraine Newell Green, who is assigned to south-east St Mary and stationed at the Castleton satellite site, told the Observer that communities such as Gibbs Hill, Devon Pen, Providence and Tom’s River are benefiting greatly from the initiative. She said on a busy day she sees more than 50 clients.