Upgraded Parish Office of Social Security Ministry Opens in Falmouth

An upgraded parish office of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security was officially opened in Falmouth, Trelawny, on September 4, by portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier.

The facility, located at 4 King Street, was refurbished and extended at a cost of $100 million, funded by the National Insurance Fund (NIF).

Addressing the ceremony, Minister Kellier said the opening is significant to the persons who live in the region, and “underscores the wisdom, foresight and commitment to the well-being of the Jamaican people by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller.”

He pointed out that it was the Prime Minister, in her then capacity as Minister of Labour, Welfare and Sport in 1990, who put forward the idea of having a National Insurance Board to function as an investment advisory board for the NIF, which is funded by the National Insurance (NIS) contributions.

“In the past two and a half decades and more, the NIF has undertaken some very significant investment projects, on behalf of the National Insurance Scheme contributors, which are contributing to the national growth agenda in significant ways, and the stability and viability of the National Insurance Scheme,” he said.

The Minister described the newly renovated parish office as a prime example of such investments.

He said the building is not simply representative of an investment initiative in monetary terms, but must be seen as constituting a critical part of the larger drive of the newly focused Ministry to create a vibrant and user-friendly customer centred culture for its valued NIS clients and members of the public at large.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Northern Trelawny and Attorney-General, Hon. Patrick Atkinson, said renovation of the historic building to house the office is significant for the town of Falmouth.

He added that buildings such as the refurbished office, and others of Georgian architecture within the town, will serve as attractions for cruise ship visitors to the area.

For her part, Member of Parliament for Southern Trelawny, Mrs. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, also underscored the importance of establishing such a facility in Trelawny, adding that it will provide a service that will enhance the lives of the people of the parish.