Delroy Dobney JLP Political Caretaker Aspirant for Southern St Catherine By Donovan Reynolds Independent Writer

Meet Delroy Dobney: he is one of the most enthusiastic, energetic, kind, and fun-loving individuals you will ever encounter. He is a charismatic 55-year-old man who has a history of impressive community service. I have been told that he is eyeing up a political career; if that is so, I can affirm that politics is in for the most exciting of times.

Delroy Dobney is from Allman Hill, St Andrew. He is the second of seven children for his parents, Mr.  Ameziah Dobney, landowner and businessman (deceased), and Mrs. Delva Morrisison; a Christian woman who has a background in nursing, career counseling and a community leader in her own right.  While his mother was in the UK, young Dobney grew up in an open house extended family setting, where his uncles, cousins, grandmother, and stepfather shared their communal space and resources with the rest of the community. His early recollection was of many persons gathering at his home to watch television, which very few families owned at the time. His family involvement in community leadership and church attendance was a central feature of his life as a child. 

He described his early life as being fraught with shyness and conformity. As a young adult, he moved to Portmore St Catherine where he gained confidence from the many leadership roles in academic institutions and civic bodies that illuminate his life.  He also represented his community in Canada and Palm Bay Florida US, where he gained valuable insight into methods of community transformation. He is especially intent on creating a safer Jamaica one community at a time; a community where residents own their space then take responsibility for its growth and development. Mr. Dobney is a community safety and security practitioner and motivational speaker.

I first heard him speak publicly early this year to a group of young people at a youth training center in South St Catherine Jamaica. There he quipped, “If you do not build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs.” Mr. Dobney is a high impact motivational speaker. During his speech presentation, his delivery was ablaze with enthusiasm and he set the room afire with fiery rhetorical devices. When he wanted to drive home the need for the young people to use the training opportunity to change their lives he pulled his arms into an evangelical clasp then, in a lower but impactful tone, he brought his speech skillfully to a halt by urging the young people to be the change that they aspire to. He did it with a smooth and special charm.

Away from the dizzy heights of fun and enthusiasm, Delroy Dobney juxtaposes a serious life of public service and philanthropy that is difficult to rival. He is a Justice of the Peace, President of the National Neighborhood Watch, volunteer at the JCF community Safety Unit, a Lay Preacher and a Project Coordinator at Public Service Organization that provides free IT training for Young People at Risk. In between this flurry of activities, he still finds time for a flighty dance move or his signature one-legged Elvis Presley shuffle.  When asked about his wide-ranging civic responsibility he jokingly posited, “Don’t forget now Donovan - that I am a husband, father and the best friend of my wife Margret and my children who keep me on track and  grounded all the time”.

I met up to speak with Mr. Dobney as he was preparing care packages in his community for persons facing financial hardship brought on by the lockdown imposed in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. I could not resist asking him about experiencing fatigue at any time during his life as a philanthropist. “Oh no”, he hastily replied! He then pleasingly went on to assert, “I perform acts of kindness, expecting n-o-t-h-i-n-g in return-not even a thank you”. When pressed further he asserted “I am a Christian and I believe that wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness with no strings attached. I want to make a difference by every act of generosity”. Indeed, whenever I do a good deed, I am also giving the opportunity for that person to go and do likewise. An act of kindness should have a cascading effect.

When queried about his political ambition he replied, “I have been asked by the people of South St Catherine to serve. I have made an application to the JLP and I have been doing some work in the constituency where there is a high level of youth unemployment and a lack of active representation. I have the passion and desire to serve the people of that constituency. I am aware that there is at least another person interested. So, I am awaiting a decision from the party. The Jamaica Labour Party has always been the theater of my dream and my political bastion. The opportunity to serve this noble institution and my beloved community is a cause too precious to pass up. I am aware of the weight of the responsibility, but I am up for the task."

The centerpiece of his life has been his Christian belief and his involvement with the Leadership of the New Testament Church of God in his community. He holds a BA Degree in Theology and a MA in Pastoral Counselling and Theology. He asserts that his personal development and happiness has come from a history of committed involvement with his church, charity, community service, and the Jamaica Labour Party.  It should be no surprise that Mr. Delroy Dobney is a candidate aspirant for the JLP seat in the Portmore area. KingstonMouth.com wishes him well with his political endeavors.

Donovan Reynolds is the CEO Kingstonmouth.com He is a trained Diplomat, Human Rights Activist, and a Communication Consultant. This article is edited by Ann Smith, a British Educator and Social Activist. Kingstommouth.com is a charitable organization that has been in existence for over eight years. We have an interest in Politics, Human Rights, and International Development Issues. Viewers wishing to comment on this article may do so at the space provided on this blog. Alternatively, they can contact us at kingstonmouth 63@ gmail.com or on our Twitter or Facebook Page.

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