Author Archives: donalddeanchambers

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”

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”

Breadfruit and hope after the storm

THE EDITOR, Madam: In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, our beloved Jamaica mourns. The wind’s roar has subsided, but in its silence, the cries of families who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and, heartbreakingly, loved ones still echo. Roofs lie scattered like memories; rivers continue to flow through living rooms; children sleep where walls onceContinue reading “Breadfruit and hope after the storm”