Letter of the Day | Vale Royal should rise again
Published:Tuesday | October 14, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
I am writing to commend the prime minister for renewing the Vale Royal Talks with Opposition Leader Mark Golding. In doing so, he has taken a crucial step towards restoring confidence in Jamaica’s democratic maturity – not just in its mechanisms but in its spirit. This renewed dialogue signals a commitment to governance grounded in listening, respect, and national purpose, rather than partisanship.
As they begin this journey of cooperation, the physical restoration of the Vale Royal building should not be overlooked. Its restoration would stand as a visible symbol of political reconciliation and ongoing stability – a concrete reminder that Jamaica’s democracy is not solely about elections but also about relationships, shared responsibility, and trust.
The revived talks offer a unique chance to tackle crucial national issues that require bipartisan agreement – constitutional reform, crime and justice, education, and modernising our governance systems. To ensure their success, the meetings should set clear objectives:
• To identify areas where consensus is possible;
• To model respectful dialogue and national unity;
• To produce measurable policy outcomes that strengthen democracy and social cohesion.
To sustain this process, a Joint Vale Royal Task Force, consisting of representatives from Government, Opposition, civil society, and academia, should be established. It can be similar to the Economic Programme Oversight Committee. This group would ensure that the talks do not turn into mere ceremony or talk shop, but become a space of accountability, transparency, and follow-up – where progress is tracked and the public is kept regularly informed.
Finally, the results of the Vale Royal Talks be shared openly with the Jamaican people. Let citizens see progress, assess its substance, and become partners in the democratic renewal that these talks embody. Public trust increases when people are invited to be both witnesses and judges of national efforts.
It is the prime minister and Mr Golding’s opportunity to show the world, especially a politically and racially polarised United States, that Jamaica has not only democratic institutions, but also the ability to find consensus, compromise, and collaboration. In a world tired of division and hostility, our small nation can serve as a prophetic example of how dialogue, respect, and shared vision can foster peace and progress.
May the Vale Royal Talks not only restore a building, but renew the nation’s hope in leadership that listens, cooperates, and acts together for the common good.
FR DONALD CHAMBERS