Minister of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) Pearnel Charles Jr, accompanied by his state minister Dr Norman Dunn and a delegation from his ministry, last week embarked on a three-day engagement session to gain valuable insight from the PATH programme’s primary stakeholders.

The visits focused on gathering and assessing feedback from first responders, who are the initial point of contact for beneficiaries of the programme and understanding their daily experiences. The feedback is to be evaluated and used as a guide to assess what needs to be done categorically for the improvement of the programme.

Charles Jr hosted several sessions with social workers, councillors, Members of Parliament, parish office managers, and local teams to gather information. Last Friday’s meeting with the St Elizabeth and Manchester parish officers and their teams represented another insightful component in garnering this valuable information for MLSS on the Go.

Charles Jr, in addressing attendees, said, “The insights and perspectives we’ve gathered from these visits are invaluable. Through these direct interactions and understanding of your day-to-day experiences, we can truly adapt and refine our approaches for maximum impact. Our mission is clear: we want to ensure that the new PATH is more responsive and effective and serves to benefit our most vulnerable Jamaican families.”

The minister went on to stress the significance of the visits, stating, “The overhaul of the PATH programme is not just about policies on paper. It’s about real people, real lives, and real benefits. Today’s visit has shown us the heart of PATH, and the information we’ve gathered will undoubtedly be instrumental in its transformation.”

Ministry officials said that they were poised to ensure that PATH improves its impact and serves as a beacon of hope and support for the most vulnerable Jamaicans.

The officials said that the visits and stakeholder engagements signify a step further in that direction, underscoring the Government’s commitment to continuous improvement and citizen-centric service delivery.