Labour ministry sets up satellite offices to help seniors, residents in rural areas

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Ministry of Labour is taking steps to make life easier for the nation’s senior citizens by establishing satellite offices across the island which are designed to bring its services closer to persons who are now having difficulties accessing their benefits at the various parish offices.

Hanover became the latest parish to be targeted with several deep rural communities with large numbers of senior citizens selected to benefit from the new initiative.

“This is an initiative from our ministry. We want to reach the people in the rural areas, as over the years we have come to realise that residents from areas such as; Chichester, Ramble, Haughton Grove, Burnt Ground, Chester Castle, Mount Peto, Bessie Baker, Axe-n-Adge and Copse have to pay like two or three bus fares, in order to come to the parish office, in Lucea, to get the services that they require,” Althea Archer-Foster, the public assistance administrator at the Hanover parish office of The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, told The Gleaner.

Archer-Foster, along with her team, were kept busy on Wednesday assisting several seniors and other persons, who attended the ministry’s satellite office at the Knockalva Technical High School.

“Since January 2025, we have been coming to this location at Knockalva every fourth Wednesday to meet with persons wishing to access the services of the ministry from this satellite office,” she said. She informed the gathering that the Westmoreland Parish Office has established its satellite office in Darliston, which is open for service on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Archer-Foster explained that every parish office is expected to establish a satellite office and have its set day when it will provide service from that facility. She said the ministry is keen on promoting healthy, active, productive ageing, and as such, seniors can receive assistance in accessing information about the available benefit programmes.

The outline of programmes that may be accessed at the satellite offices includes; NIS, PATH, and provision of the senior citizens identification card (which helps with access to the public transportation).

“I want to impress upon, especially the senior citizens, to pass on the word about the available service in the Knockalva area. One person tells the other and utilise this service, as we do not want them to spend bus fares and go to the Montego Bay office, as some request can only be dealt with in the parish in which you live,” said Archer-Foster. “So, if you go to the Montego Bay office and you are living in Hanover, chances are that you may not get the services that you want.” Archer-Foster emphasised that the offices are equipped to address all the needs of residents in their home parish, but noted that some of the services being offered by the ministry may also be accessed outside the parish.