Topic: McKeeva Bush
Opposition, government clash over proposed Cayman National deal
As shareholders of local bank Cayman National Corporation Ltd. mull an offer by the Republic Bank Trinidad and Tobago (Barbados) Ltd. to buy up to 74.99 percent of their shares, the territory’s opposition legislators are calling for the “repayment” of a $20 million “investment” government made into a former Cayman National subsidiary in 2005.
Suckoo suspension sparks walkout by Opposition
Opposition members walked out of the Legislative Assembly in protest Wednesday after Newlands MLA Alva Suckoo was suspended from the House for the day.
EDITORIAL – An easy call: Deal directly with the media
Decades ago, the editor in chief of “D” (Dallas) Magazine, who now holds the same title at the Compass (talk about a career stall), answered the phone at his desk. He regretted it immediately.
EDITORIAL – Gov. Choudhury: Keeping politics out of the process
It is understandable that people would be eager to bring an end to the tension and uncertainty swirling around Cayman’s highest office. But Cayman has nothing to gain by polarization or further division into opposing camps.
Speaker Bush backs ‘Governor Manderson’ petition
Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush has thrown his support behind a public petition to install longtime senior civil servant Franz Manderson as Cayman’s full-time governor.
House Speaker blocks attempt to bring perjury charge against civil servant
Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush on Wednesday blocked an attempt by political opposition members to bring a contempt of parliament action against government chief officer Jennifer Ahearn.
Commonwealth conference comes to Cayman
The 43rd Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association began on Monday at the Marriott Beach Resort.
MLA Bernie Bush hospitalized
West Bay North MLA Bernie Bush is expected to undergo heart surgery at Health City Cayman Islands later this week.
Bush: Challenge to public registry is appropriate
On behalf of my constituents, I would like to say that we fully endorse the position taken by the Premier Mr. Alden McLaughlin with regard to the legal challenge to be undertaken in respect of the aggressive overreach suggested by the U.K. Parliament.
Bush: An obligation to protect the people of the Cayman Islands
In the event that the matter cannot be sorted out through negotiation, the Premier, Mr. Alden McLaughlin, and the Cabinet have my full support to determine the legitimacy of the proposals through the legal system as the same appear to be a clear violation of the Cayman Islands Constitution, an individual’s legitimate right to privacy.
Ground broken for new automotive training center
Denise DeMercado still remembers how terrible she felt in 2009 when she turned away a young man looking for a job at Superior Auto, a business she runs with her husband Mark.
Bush drops Florida court action against FCO staffer
Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush has abandoned an attempt via the American courts to retrieve years’ worth of emails and other documents from a U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office employee as part of a lawsuit Mr. Bush filed in 2015 claiming wrongful prosecution.
UK official seeks to block disclosure in Bush lawsuit
A Miami-based U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office employee is opposing an application for disclosure in a civil lawsuit filed against former top Cayman Islands officials who were accused of conspiring to topple former Cayman Premier McKeeva Bush’s government in 2011-2012.
Cayman’s first female governor says goodbye
Ending a four-and-a-half year term that made her one of Cayman’s longest-serving governors since the post was established in the early 1970s, Helen Kilpatrick bid farewell to the Cayman Islands in a small sending off party at Island Air Monday afternoon.
Bush seeks help from U.S. court in ‘conspiracy’ claim
Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush has sought a Florida court’s assistance in retrieving years of emails and other communications between a Miami-based British law enforcement adviser and former Cayman government officials who Mr. Bush sued, claiming they plotted the demise of his United Democratic Party government in 2011-2012.
Lawsuit challenges Speaker’s ruling
A judicial review application filed at the Grand Court earlier this month seeks to overturn a long-standing law that prohibits records from the Legislative Assembly from being used as evidence in court without the permission of the Speaker of the House.
Treasure hunter and hotelier dies at 69
Herbert “Herbo” Humphreys, the long-time owner of the Holiday Inn and a treasure hunter credited with discovering numerous historic shipwrecks, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
Speaker Bush attends Commonwealth Conference
Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush was among more than 70 parliamentary presiding officers from more than 50 nations who attended this week’s Commonwealth Conference in the Seychelles.
Bush arrested at casino, but ultimately not charged
The eyes of Cayman fell upon a foreign shore in July, when McKeeva Bush was arrested at a south Florida casino. Mr. Bush, the Cayman Islands Speaker of the House, was arrested by Seminole Police on July 17 for a misdemeanor case of one count of “touch or strike/battery” in Coconut Creek, Florida.
Election puts Progressives back in power
May 24, 2017 might have been Cayman’s “independents’ day,” but by May 29 a group of independent candidates – with a couple of exceptions – found themselves on the outside looking in at a second term for Premier Alden McLaughlin and his Progressives-led coalition.
Cayman Democratic Party chair resigns
The long-time chairwoman of the Cayman Islands Democratic Party resigned Monday, citing “personal reasons.”
Current government was ‘nuclear option’ for Cayman Democratic Party
Documents purporting to draw up a legal agreement for the formation of a coalition government in Cayman following the May 2017 general election surfaced last week, indicating that Cayman Democratic Party officials viewed the current Progressives-led National Unity Government as “the nuclear option” at the time discussions were taking place.
Residents invited to attend Remembrance Sunday events
The annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph outside Elmslie Memorial Church in George Town on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Speaker questions PAC role
Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush noted a “concern” Wednesday that the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee had overstepped its role in recent months, wading into areas such as employment within the government service.
EDITORIAL – Speech in the Assembly: Curbing bullying, bluster and ‘blah, blah, blah’
When he called for restraining defamatory, irrelevant and erroneous speech uttered on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush was 100 percent correct – in half of what he said.
Speaker warns MLAs, media about ‘abuses’
Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush put Legislative Assembly members and the local media on notice Wednesday that he intended to adopt a strict interpretation of rules for parliamentary procedure and privilege during the current government’s term.
Cayman’s leaders pray for guidance
Cayman Islands leaders took time out from the business of running the country Wednesday to join hands in prayer.
EDITORIAL – Some advice on ‘advisory councils’: Please, don’t do it
The territory’s Constitutional Commission is calling for the creation of “Advisory District Councils” to act as intermediaries between elected representatives and their constituents. This is one call that lawmakers should let ring, and ring, and ring … without picking up.
Constitutional Commission renews call for Advisory District Councils
Cayman’s three-member Constitutional Commission on Thursday called for creation of Advisory District Councils as part of efforts marking the annual “Day of Democracy” on Sept. 15.
Out of the shadows: Bryan parts with opposition
George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan said he has been “pushed out” of an alliance with opposition leaders and now will be independent of any voting blocs in the Legislative Assembly. The first sitting of the 2017-18 legislative session begins Wednesday, Aug. 23
Florida prosecutors: ‘Insufficient evidence’ against Speaker Bush
The Florida battery case against Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush was dropped last week due to insufficient evidence, according to documents obtained through the state’s open records law. Mr. Bush, 62, was arrested following a July 17 incident at the Seminole Coconut Creek Casino in South Florida.
EDITORIAL – Bush arrest: When ‘no comment’ is the best comment
Three weeks after he was arrested at a Florida casino, House Speaker McKeeva Bush’s name has been cleared. This is welcome news, of course, for Mr. Bush and his family — but also for our country. And yet, we are certain there are those among us who are not cheering, who were hoping for a different outcome.
UPDATED: Florida drops battery case against McKeeva Bush
No charges will be filed against Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush in relation to allegations that he inappropriately touched a Florida casino waitress last month. Prosecutors in the State Attorney’s Office confirmed statements by Mr. Bush’s attorney Friday that no charges would be filed.
NEW: Florida prosecutors drop case against Speaker McKeeva Bush
Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush will not have a misdemeanor battery charge brought against him following a July 17 incident involving a waitress at a Florida casino.
Florida authorities release Bush arrest report
A Florida casino waitress told Seminole Police during an interview that she wanted to press charges against Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush because Mr. Bush “touched [her] body against her will,” records obtained by the Cayman Compass reveal.
Bush claims ‘wrongful arrest’
Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush said late Friday that his arrest last week at a Florida casino was “wrongful,” but he apologized to the country for all the uproar it caused.
Bush files ‘not guilty’ plea in Florida arrest
The lawyer for Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush filed a written “not guilty” plea Wednesday to an allegation of battery against Mr. Bush, according to Broward County, Florida court records.
UPDATED: Bush arrested at Florida casino
Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush was arrested Monday at a south Florida casino.
Barefoot Man – ‘Ballad of Mac and Alden’
Cayman's troubadour Barefoot Man unveils his latest election-inspired single, "Ballad of Mac and Alden."
Premier McLaughlin to lead 13-member coalition government
A coalition of 13 elected members of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly was sworn in Wednesday in downtown George Town, bringing an end to the political scramble that followed the territory’s May 24 general election.
Bush makes first speech as new Speaker of the House
Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush finds himself serving in the same position he and his then-colleagues created 30 years ago.
EDITORIAL – Press freedom: Taking a stand, not a ‘pass’
Any attempt by government bureaucrats to regulate, influence or in any way interfere with our lawful news-gathering mission will be met with polite, but firm, rejection.
CDP statement on new government
The Cayman Democratic Party has joined with the Progressives and a selected number of independents to form a government of national unity.
UPDATED: Few surprises as government sworn in
A 13-member government was sworn in by Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick Wednesday morning in a Legislative Assembly ceremony.
Independent legislators look to join new ‘unity’ government
The Cayman Islands new coalition government will have at least 13 members, possibly as many as 15, by the time it is sworn in Wednesday morning.
UPDATE: Longtime rivals join forces to form coalition government
For the second time in four days, longtime political rivals Alden McLaughlin and McKeeva Bush agreed to form a coalition government.
EDITORIAL – One Man, One Vote: Cayman’s stormy political seas
You could call it chaos, confusion and turmoil. We call it "Cayman Islands democracy in action."
BREAKING: PPM-CDP coalition forms … again
It’s Premier Alden McLaughlin and Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush … again.
EDITORIAL – ‘Premier for a Day’: Who’s Next?
Nothing will be certain until the majority of the Legislative Assembly arrives at a final decision and the governor makes her official appointments.
EARLIER: Elected members struggle to form new gov’t and name premier
Discussions over the future of the government remained mired in uncertainty Sunday afternoon following a weekend in which Alden McLaughlin and then McKeeva Bush declared themselves premier, only for the deals to fall apart.
Bush strikes deal with independents to become premier
McKeeva Bush is set to become premier of the Cayman Islands, striking a deal with a group of independents, and reversing an announcement made hours earlier with the Progressives.
EARLIER: McLaughlin, Bush announced agreement to form new government
A diverse mix of political leaders has been chosen to form the next Cayman Islands government under Premier Alden McLaughlin, who will be serving his second term in that position.
Election over, scramble for gov’t begins
The Cayman Islands voters have had their say. Now it’s time for the 19 people they elected to decide who will run the government for the next four years.
Mixed reviews for first run of ‘one man, one vote’ system
As voters made their way to the polls Wednesday, candidates expressed mixed feelings about the new “one man, one vote” electoral system.
Independents’ day: Coalition government looms
A disparate group of independent candidates triumphed in Wednesday’s general election, but they did not manage to win a 10-seat majority in the Legislative Assembly.
Candidates make last bid for votes
At least three rival rallies will take place across Grand Cayman Tuesday night as the independent candidates, the Cayman Democratic Party and the Progressives make their final pitch to voters before the midnight deadline for all campaigning to stop.
Rival supporters clash as campaign rallies heat up
Rival supporters crossed paths in the streets on Saturday as two political rallies intersected on a busy final weekend of campaigning ahead of Wednesday’s general election. There were no reports of any physical violence.
Expats eye financial impact of changes to Pensions Law
The Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Association and major employers warned last month that businesses face the prospect of mass resignations from workers who want early access to their savings.
Election candidates split over immigration restructure
Three candidates in Wednesday’s general election took deeply divided positions on immigration reform, with some favoring a work permit moratorium and others seeking to take the granting of work permits away from the Immigration Department entirely.
George Town Landfill: A growing monument to governments’ inaction
The issue is a long-standing toxic eyesore that dominates Grand Cayman’s landscape, presents an odorous nuisance for neighbors and poses a potential health threat to the Cayman Islands public. The George Town Landfill has been a fixture on the political calendar for decades but became a headline-grabbing topic during the United Democratic Party’s 2009-2012 administration.
Education: Candidates seek new solutions to familiar problems
“Every effort must be made to make our educational facilities and teaching staffs second to none. All children deserve and must have a full and complete education.” Those words, from a November 1965 post-election editorial in the old Tradewinds publication about the need to prepare Cayman’s students for the demands of a growing offshore finance center, could just have easily been written in 2017.
EDITORIAL – Political campaigns enter the home stretch
In three short weeks, Cayman Islands voters will stream to the country’s polling stations for Cayman’s quadrennial exercise in democracy.
Government’s ‘surplus’ does not count debt payment
The Cayman Islands government will achieve a much smaller budget surplus during 2017 than it has in each of the last three financial years.
Calls for clarity on candidate eligibility
Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush has called for amendments to the Constitution to clarify who can stand in Cayman Islands elections.
Bush: Give principals control over schools
Principals should be given control over school budgets and the hiring and firing of teachers, Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush said Friday.
Premier comes out swinging
In a Saturday night event that was partly a campaign launch and partly a fond farewell to a former Progressives party leader, Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin took aim at two political opponents.
CDP outlines 100-day plan
In a 40-minute Saturday-night address, Cayman Democratic Party leader McKeeva Bush outlined an ambitious eight-point action plan for his first “10 to 100 days” if elected in May.
EDITORIAL – ‘Where’s Alden?’: Different approaches to political chess
There’s a truism in political circles that goes, “Before voters ever choose their candidates – candidates have already chosen their voters.” That’s certainly what happened yesterday – Nomination Day – particularly with the Progressives.
Record-setting Nomination Day: 63 hopefuls compete for 19 seats
A record 63 candidates will contest the Cayman Islands general election on May 24 after a frantic day of nominations across the country generated some surprises.
Government drops lawyers bill at last minute
Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin announced late Monday afternoon that his Progressives-led government was abandoning efforts to pass a version of the controversial Legal Practitioners Bill during the current term, which ends Tuesday.
Former PPM leader’s brother on opposition party team
The opposition Democratic Party will field at least 10 party candidates, in addition to supporting some independents for the upcoming election. One of those CDP candidates is Denniston Tibbetts, the older brother of Progressives party founder and former leader, Kurt Tibbetts.
Bush: Stop blaming party system
McKeeva Bush criticized repeated attacks on the territory’s two-party political system Friday, warning that individuals or groups outside the Legislative Assembly could end up controlling the government following the May 24 general election, rather than the candidates voters choose.
