“All men are born equal, but some are more equal than others.”

I am most outraged by the announcement in Parliament by National Security Minister Peter Bunting that only the political aristocracy will get close protection officers (bodyguards) at the expense of the State, while leaving our judges to the mercy of gunmen, subject to an assessment of their threat levels.

It seems our local politicians, led by Minister Bunting, have either taken leave of their senses or are making a clear and unequivocal statement that they are better than the rest of us. Thus, only our political elites — governors general, prime ministers, Opposition Leader and Cabinet members (past and present) — will automatically get bodyguards, but judges and others will not automatically get such protection.

What arrogance! What a piece of effrontery!

The irony in all of this is that some of our political elites hug up some of those who wreak havoc and mayhem upon our society, and whose deeds may well assist politicians to maintain the political garrisons. But they are making themselves safe with bodyguards at our expense and leave the rest of us to make up the annual statistics of those who bite the dust.

My fellow Jamaicans, are we going to continue taking this wanton abuse of power? This is unacceptable!

Peter Townsend is president of the National Democratic Movement.