Eric Arthur Blair, better known to the world as George Orwell, pens a compelling final scene in his classic allegory, Animal Farm.

In it the pigs, who were supposed to have been leading their fellow beasts to a better way of life, are revelling in alcohol with their sworn enemies, the very humans responsible for the misery and oppression on the farm.

As the other animals watch from the periphery, the two species literally morph, and it becomes impossible to differentiate man from pig.

If we couldn’t relate to Orwell’s point before, we certainly can now, against the background of what is taking place in this society where the gun is king, and we its slaves.

Never mind the top-level meetings by Government ministers or their courtesy calls on the victims of the brutal murders — 566 and counting — since the beginning of the year.

Never mind the platitudes.

For they won’t — nay can’t — keep the guns out of Jamaica.

No; the free flow of guns into this country will continue as long as we cling to the garrisons and mentalities built up over the years by the same politicians who, like Orwell’s pigs, are supposed to be leading us to peace and prosperity.

It’s not so much about who is starring in which particular political scandal. It’s about understanding and calling to book the current factors which are propelling the society towards certain failure, despite the desperate attempts on the part of some to feign prosperity.

We need not fool ourselves into believing that we can have our cake and eat it.

If we are going to be selective in the fight against crime, we are going to fail.

We are going to fail because the inconsistencies to which selectiveness give rise will condemn us as hypocrites and make us look silly.

And silly hypocrites will never be able to command the level of respect or co-operation, without which we will never emerge from our dilemma.

All of the garrisons, including the one in Tivoli, West Kingston, for which Prime Minister Bruce Golding has direct responsibility, must be dismantled.

Like many of the cures for illnesses that are the result of years of decline, it won’t happen overnight. But it must start somewhere. And we submit that the resolution of the current impasse over the US’ extradition request for Mr Golding’s friend, Mr Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, is as good a place as any.

For the proposition that all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others, simply won’t wash.

It didn’t wash centuries ago when the western world colonised us; it didn’t wash in Animal Farm, and no matter which way we try to spin it, it won’t wash now.