The Editor, Sir:

Danville Walker's commendable article, 'Why they killed Douglas Chambers', (The Gleaner, June 30) speaks to the critical issue that has been haemorrhaging the social and moral life of our nation for decades. In summary, the paralysis of goodness in the face of evil.

We must trash the idea that Chambers' style of leadership and the alleged arrogant manner in which he dealt with persons may have been the motive for those who killed him. To focus on that is to miss the point Walker is making, that "Douglas Chambers was not murdered because he sent off some workers, ... he was murdered because he had the audacity to challenge the status quo of inefficiency, patronage and corruption ...", the very seeds of violence.

'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'

The tragic irony is that only when the innocent victim is killed, in the cause of righting wrong, can the cycle of evil and corruption be ultimately rooted out.

As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: "When a willing victim, who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the table would crack and death itself would start working backwards".

We do not know how this occurs, but we know that it does. We know that good people can deliberately allow themselves to be pierced by the evil deeds of others and despite the spilling of their blood, they never really die, since the noble cause for which they gave their life, lives on.

Shift in the balance of power

Whenever this happens, a slight shift in the balance of power takes place. While we have time to defend the cause of civility, justice and goodwill, let us do so. May God give us the strength to resist the coalition of evil forces in this our beloved nation. We commend his family and loved ones to our prayers at this time of deep and painful loss.

I am, etc.,

Rt REV ROBERT THOMPSON

Bishop of Kingston