Julie Hunter topples McKeeva Bush in West Bay West

Election night’s largest upset has been dealt by West Bay West candidate Julie Hunter, a first-time contender representing the Cayman Islands National Party. Hunter has done what no other Cayman Islands candidate has been able to do and has defeated independent incumbent McKeeva Bush as an MP challenger by a margin of just 19 votes.

“It was definitely a hard-fought race, but it was time, and we feel good,” she said, thanking her supporters for their love and prayers.

“Now that I am elected, I am going to be a Member of Parliament for every single member of my constituency. Whether you voted for me or not, that is irrelevant at this stage,” she said.

Bush, who served in office for 40 years, is also Hunter’s cousin and had appeared to be untouchable, overcoming numerous political scandals and legal battles, including several recent assault cases. 

In the 2021 election, Bush defeated Mario Ebanks by just 27 votes. Despite the scandals that surrounded Bush at the time, he proved to be a kingmaker during that election, helping Wayne Panton and a coalition of independents form the PACT government.

Ebanks, who appeared as a pundit during Compass TV’s live election coverage, celebrated Hunter’s victory, declaring “mission accomplished” and wishing Bush a happy retirement. 

“The time has come,” Ebanks said.

Bush, who served in the highest levels of government as premier and speaker of the house, was one of the few candidates who did not appear during the Chamber of Commerce Candidates’ Forums this year, saying he had constituency matters to attend to, and left Hunter alone on the stage to promote her platform.

Hunter, who served for 35 years in the banking and legal sectors, retired last year from Cayman National Bank. She is also the founder of the non-profit organisation Circle of Love.

When she announced her candidacy in November last year, Hunter, who in previous elections had supported Bush, said she had believed him when he said four years ago that 2021 would be his last run for office, and that his political career had “spiralled downward” in recent years.

During the Chamber forum, she outlined the cost of living, education reform and immigration reform as her top three campaign issues. She returned to the topic of immigration throughout the forum, connecting the issue to living costs, the labour market, housing and community trust.

“I’m running for the many Caymanians who emigrated to other countries because they didn’t have opportunities in their own homeland. They need an advocate,” she said.

She won the West Bay West seat by 50.21%, securing 474 votes against Bush’s 455.

Bush is expected to appear in court again on 13 May, when the Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear an appeal of a Grand Court judge’s decision to abandon the former premier’s indecent assault trial.