Darliston Post Office closure leaves residents distressed

Residents of Darliston, Westmoreland are expressing deep concern over the closure of the local post office, saying that the move has placed a dreaded financial and physical strain on pensioners, PATH beneficiaries and postal workers, particularly in eastern sections of the parish.

The closure of the post office by the Westmoreland Health Department has left many residents at odds. Authorities deemed the facility unfit due to infrastructural problems, forcing residents and pensioners to travel to the Savanna-la-Mar Post Office to conduct their business.

For elderly residents, the journey to Savanna-la-Mar can be both financially and physically taxing.

A 94-year-old resident, speaking with The Gleaner, described the closure as devastating, especially for elderly residents who depend on the post office to collect their pensions.

“It’s very depressing and it’s heart-rending to know that the post office [is closing] … Especially for the old, not even the old alone, both old and young,” the resident said.

The elderly woman explained that many pensioners will now be forced to pay others to collect their money, cutting deeply into already limited income.

“Spending money from Darliston to Savanna-la-Mar … the old people would have to get somebody to send for their things. And they have to pay money. How are they going to pay out of that little money?” she asked.

“The little pension that they get, they have to pay transportation, they have to go all the way to Savanna-la-Mar. It’s not easy.”

She added that even younger residents struggle with the journey, making the situation worse for seniors.

“The younger generation … it’s hard for them, much less the older ones … to travel. I can’t go to Savanna-la-Mar. I have to send somebody … and we have to pay them out of the money. It’s not good.”

Another Darliston resident said the closure has compounded existing challenges, noting that the Darliston post office had already been accommodating services relocated after recent hurricane damage.

“The closure of the post office in Darliston has really put on a strain on a number of persons. Darliston post office was already hosting a number of post offices after the hurricane,” the resident explained.

Increased costs and risks

Some communities were already travelling farther than usual.

“For example, Bethel Town would have been relocated to Darliston, so those persons would have to travel from Bethel Town to Darliston to collect their mail.”

With services now shifted to Savanna-la-Mar, residents say costs and risks have increased significantly, particularly for pensioners unfamiliar with the town.

“Now closing it (Darliston Post Office) and sending it to Savanna-la-Mar puts a financial strain on persons, especially our pensioners, who will now have to find a way to travel into Savanna-la-Mar,” the resident said.

“Some of them don’t know the place, they are not aware of the happenings in Sav, the visitor affair, I mean being safe from pickpockets, etc, the sun and so forth.”

Concerns were also raised about long lines and poor conditions at the Savanna-la-Mar Post Office.

“Savanna-la-Mar is not even a place that is hospitable. It’s a site for sore eyes, it needs fixing and to add where these persons don’t even have somewhere to sit while they wait,” the resident said.

They warned that transportation costs alone could consume a significant portion of pension payments.

“By the time they come back, half the pension is already spent.”

Additionally, staff members now face higher commuting costs.

“Some of these workers too, it’s an additional fare for them because they would have been coming from various places, maybe as far as Ashton now. So Ashton to Darliston, Darliston to Savanna-la-Mar, that’s extra.”

The fare to and from Darliston to Savanna-la-Mar is $300, and then another $100 to $200 just to get into the inner communities.

Another issue the resident raised was access to justices of the peace, which residents say has become more complicated with the relocation.

“Some persons would require the use of justices of the peace to sign stuff for them. Now, when they’re going to Savanna-la-Mar, they’re not familiar with justice of the peace,” the resident said.

“So what are they going to do if they might go into Sav and have to pick up a registered slip, come back into the Darliston area or even return to their community, get stuff signed and another day back into Savanna-la-Mar?”

Residents are now calling on the relevant authorities to urgently address the situation, citing the need to prioritise accessibility, the workers’ health and wellbeing and the additional strain the deprivation of post office services will have on Darliston’s residents, particularly the elderly.

mickalia.kington@gleanerjm.com