In 1945, Englishman Eric Blair, writing under the name George Orwell, penned one of the most famous books in history.
Orwell was a strong advocate for social justice. He detested elitism, tyranny and dictatorship in any form whatsoever. So he was, understandably, very excited and enthusiastic about the Russian Revolution in 1917 when, first in February, the monarchy was ousted, then in October, the Bolsheviks took over.
By the way, in case you didn’t know, much of the initiative for that Revolution came from working women who walked off their jobs, took to the streets, and demanded justice.
But by the time Stalin took over about seven years later, Orwell saw a re-emergence of the elitism, tyranny and ruthless dictatorship that had existed under the Russian monarchy. Too much power in the hands of too few, without the requisite checks and balances, transparency and accountability. And too much arrogance, corruption, intimidation and victimization. Orwell felt that the Russian people had been betrayed. He was particularly aggrieved because the Bolsheviks claimed to have the best interests of ordinary folks at heart.
And some twenty years later, he wrote a book about it, a book of conscience, which he named ‘Animal Farm’.
Here, very briefly, is the story.
Old Major, an old pig on Manor Farm (which was the setting for the story) detested human beings, referring to them as parasites; and he called upon all of the animals to rebel, teaching them a revolutionary song entitled ‘Beasts of England’,
When Old Major died, two younger pigs named Snowball and Napoleon took command and led the rebellion, and the animals took control of the Farm, renaming it Animal Farm.
The animals adopted the ‘Seven Commandments of Animalism’, of which the most important was “All animals are equal”.
Snowball taught the animals to read and write, while Napoleon taught ‘the Principles of Animalism’. But Napoleon wanted power for himself, and he ruthlessly and dishonestly did and said things to discredit and undermine Snowball, and others whom he suspected were not towing his line, in an effort to turn the animals against them and to secure himself in power. And he succeeded, taking full control of the Farm, which he ruled with an iron fist.
Napoleon changed up everything, putting his special pigs in key positions. His chief propagandist and informant was a boar named Squeeler.
Napoleon sent out the dogs to kill any animal, including pigs, which he thought sympathized with, or supported, Snowball. He even sold one of his more loyal supporters, an old, hard-working horse named Boxer to a man who was in the business of buying worn-out horses to have them slaughtered and sold for meat, so that he(Napoleon) could get money to buy whisky.
Most of the animals, including the victim himself, had believed that Napoleon was sending Boxer to the veterinarian for treatment and care and comfort in his twilight years, but a cynical donkey named Benjamin, who could read as well as any of the pigs, realized what Napoleon had really done to poor old Boxer.
And now in full dictator mode, Napoleon replaced ‘Beasts of England’ with a song glorifying himself, and he had some of the animals, especially the sheep, mentally conditioned into believing that they were better off under him.
His behavior, and that of the other pigs, became more and more like that of humans, and it reached the point where ‘the Seven Commandments’ were discarded and replaced by a single Commandment, namely, “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”. And the name of the Farm was changed back to Manor Farm.
By this time, the rest of the animals could no longer distinguish between pigs and people, and they realized that the pigs were no better than Mr. Jones, the man who had been ousted from the Farm in the rebellion.
The story is very intriguing, very compelling, and very instructive. And although it was written to depict circumstances in Russia a hundred years ago, and to reflect Orwell’s deep disappointment with the Russian leaders and their betrayal of the trust and hope of their people, you may find it to be startlingly descriptive of our own situation here in St. Kitts & Nevis today.
Sir Lee L. Moore was the first ‘Snowball’, and Mr. Charles Mills was perhaps the first ‘Boxer’. And over the years, under what used to be described as ‘New Labour’, there’s been more than a fair share of ‘Boxers’, ‘Squeelers’, ‘Benjamins’, and other interesting characters mentioned in the book. And more of us, including myself, have come to discover that the “overthrow” of 1995 was done less in the cause of the people of this country and more in pursuit of the selfish intentions of a few elitist, tyrannical and dictator types.
The ordinary people of this land have been, and still are being, betrayed.
Please read ‘Animal Farm’, and see what perspective it leaves you with, as you reflect on our local situation. Meanwhile, to assist you in the exercise, I’ll try to get the 1995 Election Manifesto of ‘New Labour’ posted on Operation Rescue’s Facebook page and elsewhere.
And while all of that unfolds, let’s have a look at some other things happening on our ‘Farm’ right now.
Yesterday, it was announced that the Governor-General had appointed an Acting Supervisor of Elections. The Constitution requires the GG to consult with the Prime Minister, the Premier and the Opposition Leader before he makes the appointment. (This is one area of the Constitution that, in my opinion, needs to be amended, to include the leader of the Opposition in Nevis). And the press release indicated that the GG had in fact consulted with the persons holding those three offices.
But did he? I’m told that about two weeks ago, the GG advised the Opposition Leader, Mr. Mark Brantley, that he was thinking of appointing someone to stand in for Mr. Raphael Archibald who has been ailing for a number of months (and we wish him well).I’m also told that at that time the GG didn’t name anybody.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader waited to hear back from the GG with regard to the person or persons whom the GG had in mind, so that he could be appropriately consulted. But having listened to Mr. Brantley on the radio last night, I don’t believe that ever happened.
Can merely telling the Opposition Leader that he was thinking of appointing someone be enough to satisfy the Constitutional requirement for consultation? I think not.
To make matters worse, the GG has appointed Mr. Wingrove George, a well known Douglas activist, to act as Supervisor of Elections. Is there no better choice for democracy than Wingrove George?
How much more disrespect, disgrace and degradation must the people of this land endure?
Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to have the former Supervisor of Elections, also long-standing Chaplain of the Police Force, to be put on salary as Force Chaplain, and this at Superintendent’s level (something that he had been wanting for years). Expect to see him bedecked in his Force Chaplain Uniform anytime now.
While I have no problem with the concept of a Force Chaplain, I wonder under what legal authority is that action being taken. Is the gentleman on a contract? Is any of his remuneration and/or allowance retroactive, and if so, how far back?
Napoleon loves his underlings in uniforms.
Meanwhile, Kontenda Maynard told the media yesterday that he doesn’t want any politics in the National Bank’s business, when it’s because of the politics of Animal Farm, and nothing but the politics, that he’s Chairman of the Board of the Bank, or even on the Board at all.
And my former ministerial colleague, Cedric, is, I’m told, now on his third 2-year contract as consultant/adviser to the Port at $8,000 monthly, with a 20% gratuity paid at the end of every 2-year period. If my information is correct, his latest contract ends in 2016. Where would a political appointee be given a contract that goes beyond a five-year term?
On Animal Farm, that’s where.
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