Award-winning Guyanese poet teases the upcoming publication of her debut poetry collection, Indignation

First published on 31 May 2026 by the Guyana Chronicle here

BORN and raised in Guyana, Jamella Chesney is an environmentalist, career coach, and poet who writes about women’s experiences and her West Indian identity.

“I’ve had a curiosity for storytelling since childhood. I remember staying up on school nights past my bedtime with a torchlight under the sheets, reading Nancy Drew, Animorphs, and other book series,” she said.

Chesney’s parents always encouraged reading from a young age. She would borrow novels from the library or purchase them from bookstores, and developed a habit of reading.

Her rich imagination and love for world-building bloomed into a passion for creative writing, specifically poetry.

She saw herself investing time to become more than she ever envisioned, and, with a steady pen and a learning mind, she was learning to portray herself through poems.

Although her poems have been published by Kinsman Quarterly, Gemini Magazine, and adda, the online literary magazine for the Commonwealth Foundation, Chesney notes that her biggest accomplishment to date was being awarded Third Prize for Poetry at the 2024 Guyana Prize for Literature.

“Winning the prize was such an unforgettable achievement. The recognition gave me a confidence boost by validating the quality of my work. If accomplished judges could see the merit of my manuscript, then I knew that I had created something worthwhile,” she said.

Chesney’s debut anthology, Indignation, which means anger or annoyance provoked by perceived unfair treatment, offers a powerful reflection on the upbringing of girls in Christian Caribbean households.

The collection is threaded by undertones of religious dogma, defiance, and self-discovery — shaped by the poet’s own personal experience as well as the collective realities of West Indian women across generations.

“The collection was written in honour of my late maternal grandmother, Cilene English, who was the matriarchal anchor of my family, but also for the village in which she lived all her life.

When I relive my memories of her, I am continuously in awe of her strength and leadership. Owing to her industriousness, resilience, and spiritual guidance, I found the courage to embark on this journey. I know she would be proud of the fact that I’ve proudly embraced my talent and shared it with the world,” she said.

Exploring themes of shame, silence, and migration, Chesney’s upcoming book dissects the duality of an outspoken, opinionated young woman who manoeuvres and breaks free from conservative belief systems.

What makes her collection unique is that it spans time and space — over a decade of experiences captured in the U.S.A., Costa Rica, South Korea, London, and Guyana.

Although she believes poetry writing to be her God-given talent, Chesney underscores that any craft requires training and refinement.

“I am intentional about personal development and always seek out workshops or courses on creative writing. There weren’t many opportunities for skill development after the Guyana Prize, but I try to take advantage of resources available by joining local writing groups and reaching out to notable authors for critique and guidance on my work,” she said.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she looks forward to self-publishing her first poetry collection later this year. Her hope is to inspire other young women to find their voices, be authentic in their truth, and be audacious in pursuing their dreams.