donalddeanchambers

Waltham Park Road – symptoms of a nation in distress

THE EDITOR, Madam: The Gleaner article of March 13, “Filth and Hazards on Waltham Park Road,” acts as a mirror reflecting Jamaica’s deeper socio-economic and moral condition. Imagine, for a moment, that Jamaica is a patient taken to A&E. Waltham Park Road is the body before the doctor for examination. What symptoms would the physician identify?Continue reading “Waltham Park Road – symptoms of a nation in distress”

Beyond the Reef

Vulnerability,Brené Brown says it’s uncertainty, risk, emotional exposure—but it feels to me like standing barefootat the edge of the sea,where the sand still remembers my nameand the water does not.Lately, the tides have changed.What once felt like a gentle shorelinenow asks me to swim—past the protective reef,past what is familiar,into waters that are deep, dark,andContinue reading “Beyond the Reef”

The Marriage of Christmas and Emmaus

Christmas is God’s greatest surprise:God steps onto the dusty and rugged road of our human journey.No longer distant—no longer mediated only by fire, cloud, angel, or law—God walks with us now in flesh and vulnerability,as companion, as Child, as Presence.For this mystery, the heavens themselves cannot remain silent:Gloria in excelsis Deo.And yet, so often, weContinue reading “The Marriage of Christmas and Emmaus”

I Am

I am—born and grown under the bright Caribbean sun,cradled in the warm, salt-sweet womb of the Caribbean Sea.Before my ancestors dreamed of freedom,God was already stirring the waters,brooding over chaos, whispering life into broken beginnings.The waves sang my lullaby before I knew my name,and the trade winds carried the stories of those who came beforeContinue reading “I Am”

Synodal Gift

At the School of Liturgy in St. Lucia, I watched a young soul, Nye Smith, participating in the journey.Seated beside his brother, lost in the glow of a screen, he was utterly absorbed, drawing life into a cartoon character.I approached, forming a gentle bond, and asked,”What are you sketching?””How old are you?””Who are you with?”HisContinue reading “Synodal Gift”

Gifts of national transformation

THE EDITOR, Madam: As in the biblical story of the Magi (Wise Men), Jamaica in 2025 received three gifts or stories that must be told, as they are models for national transformation rooted, not in rhetoric, but in value-centred programmes powered by skilled training and the creative arts. The first gift came in a conversationContinue reading “Gifts of national transformation”

When gold turns yellow, national pride and value fade

THE EDITOR: Madam: As we step into a new year, a personal dream that the post-Hurricane Melissa rebuilding will move beyond roads, bridges, and houses to the reconstruction of the very values that shape who we are. Recovery must be both physical and moral. And few national symbols speak more powerfully to our identity thanContinue reading “When gold turns yellow, national pride and value fade”

When public works becomes public inconvenience

THE EDITOR, Madam: Government institutions such as the National Water Commission (NWC) have perfected the art of turning necessary infrastructure upgrades into exercises in human suffering. Too often, their operations make daily life unbearable, burdensome, and emotionally draining, while simultaneously dragging down national productivity. The latest example is unfolding in the Liguanea/Wellington Drive corridor —Continue reading “When public works becomes public inconvenience”

Reimagining the National Prayer Breakfast

THE EDITOR: Madam: The National Prayer Vigil remains one of Jamaica’s most meaningful spiritual traditions, and Christian churches deserve commendation for sustaining it faithfully over the years. They have carried the country through seasons of grief, turbulence, and renewal. Yet, as Jamaica evolves, so too must our shared expressions of national prayer and unity. TheContinue reading “Reimagining the National Prayer Breakfast”

Myth of the able-bodied

THE EDITOR, Madam: Each year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities prompts reflection. Yet, what is needed is a profound global paradigm shift. The very phrase “persons with disabilities” itself is a misnomer. As eloquently noted by a speaker, every human possesses a range of abilities. None of us is complete; we are allContinue reading “Myth of the able-bodied”