House Speaker McKeeva Bush has yet to tender his resignation letter, more than 10 days after accusations of inappropriate behaviour at a government function emerged.
Parliament confirmed to the Cayman Compass Thursday afternoon, shortly after 1pm, that no letter of resignation from the West Bay West MP has yet been received.
The clock is running down on the Friday 23 Sept. deadline, set by Premier Wayne Panton for Bush to step down.
The Speaker has previously indicated to both Panton and infrastructure minister Jay Ebanks that he will vacate the office, but he has not committed to a timeline or the terms of his exit. Asked for comment Thursday, he said his immediate focus is on preparing for a storm that is expected to hit Cayman early next week.
It is not clear what action Panton will take against the Speaker if he does not resign before his stated deadline. It would be open to the Premier to bring a motion of no-confidence against the Speaker as an alternate remedy.
However, Bush, in a comment to the Compass Thursday, would not confirm outright when he will resign, instead urging all to “wait on the due process of the law.”
He told us his focus right now is on the threat posed by a developing tropical depression which is tracking towards Cayman and declined to comment further on his political future.
“This country must be concerned with the oncoming hurricane and what faces our people, at least I am. I am beginning to prepare for my constituents of West Bay West and any others that may need help,” he told the Compass.
He added that he is calling a meeting with his West Bay West advancement council “to advise on matters to do with hurricane preparations” over the next couple of days.
Bush had previously indicated that he does plan to resign from the Speaker’s role – though not as an MP.
Police are yet to give any formal updates on the status of the investigation, begun on 14 Sept. into allegations that two women were assaulted while at a government-organised cocktail reception for the Caribbean Tourism Organization conference.
The RCIPS, in a statement to the Compass on Thursday following queries on the status of the probe, said, “the investigation remains ongoing and has not been closed. We are unable to comment further at this time”.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart and his team filed a motion of no-confidence on Wednesday, seeking, in effect, to remove Panton as premier and install a new administration.
The Opposition has cited as its top reason for the motion, Panton’s “ineffective leadership” as it outlined 13 instances where it alleges the government has fallen short in the management of the affairs of the country. Panton has described the motion as a poorly-timed power-grab.
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