Compass sources have confirmed that McKeeva Bush appeared in court earlier Tuesday morning to answer charges of indecent assault and common assault related to an incident last September at a government event.
According to police, the West Bay West MP and former Speaker of the House was arrested Tuesday morning and formally charged with “two counts each of indecent assault and common assault (in the alternative)”.
Police, in announcing the arrest, identified him only as a “senior politician”.
The investigation was launched after an incident involving at least two women at a government reception for the Caribbean Tourism Organization conference on 13 Sept. 2022.
The details of the assaults were not made public.
Police originally began investigations, following what they termed “social media reports circulating of an incident/incidents of assault”, at a government-sponsored event on 13 Sept.
Bush is expected to make his next court appearance on 21 March.
Premier: Charges ‘serious and concerning’
Premier Wayne Panton, in a statement to the Cayman Compass Tuesday afternoon following Bush’s arrest and subsequent court appearance, said, “The charges laid [Tuesday] against long serving independent MP McKeeva Bush, are serious and concerning.”
However, the premier added, “I believe in our system of justice along with the principle of innocent until proven guilty, and I have faith in our courts to resolve this matter.”
Whatever the outcome of this particular case, the statement goes on, there are larger social issues that the matter raises, such as “the treatment of women in the workplace and in our society”.
“Almost every woman has had inappropriate experiences. We, as a society, must do better. The draft Sexual Harassment Legislation out for public consultation offers the country an opportunity to have the uncomfortable but necessary conversations about how we do a better job of treating each other with the respect that we all deserve, regardless of gender,” Panton added.
Opposition points to Code of Conduct
Leader of the Opposition Roy McTaggart, in commenting on Bush being charged, took issue with Panton referring to the West Bay West MP as an “independent”, and noted that legislators signed a Parliamentary Code of Conduct.
“Premier Panton may… be hoping that the public has forgotten that Mr Bush, along with other members of the PACT Government, has signed a Parliamentary Code of Conduct which they published this past New Years Eve. We wait with bated breath to hear how the Premier will address the current situation under the Code of Conduct,” McTaggart said.
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