Smith

The following is a message from Derrick Smith, minister of mining and telecommunications, in recognition of today's celebration of World Post Day.

Today is World Post Day and Jamaica joins the international postal service community in saluting the men and women for their vital contribution to this domain.

World Post Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the founding of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Berne, Switzerland, in 1874.

It is worth noting that the postal ser-vice started in Jamaica in 1671, some 200 years before the founding of the UPU.

The theme for World Post Day is 'Stay Connected', which highlights a week of activities that commenced on Sunday, with a service at the Fellowship Tabernacle Church in St Andrew.

World Post Week activities also included the annual Postman Awards ceremony on Tuesday, during which 30 postmen (male and female) from across the island were recognised for their outstanding performances.

As we salute the postal workers, I urge every Jamaican to say a special thank you to your postman when he or she drops off the mail, or when you visit your post office.

It is crucial that Jamaica stays connected in an environment characterised by stiffer competition, globalisation, market liberalisation and the rapid growth of new technologies.

New opportunities

It was widely felt that email and the Internet would have replaced many postal services but, instead, they have created new opportunities.

The postal service still continues to be the vital link within the nation and the outside world to persons not yet able to make full use of new technologies.

Jamaica's Postal Service currently employs 2,300 persons in 293 post offices and 274 postal agencies.

I want to use this opportunity on World Post Day to recognise the tremendous contribution to nation building by the workers in the postal service.

The working conditions have never been ideal, but you have worked hard and maintained high standards to keep the nation connected.

Customers have come to rely on the postal service to complete a wide range of business transactions.

These include computer-based business services, such as bill payment and money transfer facilities.

Pension vouchers

Additionally, customers are able to encash their pension vouchers and even buy newspapers.

We have come a long way and we continue to thrive to improve the quality of service in the postal sector.

As we modernise the postal service, teamwork remains pivotal to our success.

As Minister of Telecommunications I can confidently say that Jamaica's postal service is alive and well and will continue to contribute fully to the economic and social development.

It is imperative that we maintain teamwork in order to reach our primary goal to 'stay connected'.