Bush to run in West Bay West

| 02/01/2017 | 104 Comments

(CNS): The opposition leader has confirmed that he will be running in his own home district of West Bay West in the 2017 election under the new electoral system. McKeeva Bush revealed in his New Year message that he will be launching his election bid with a constituency council meeting on Monday night. He said he was still opposed to the new system of ‘one man, one vote’ in single member constituencies but he that it was important for people to educate themselves about the “sweeping changes” and use their vote.

Bush is the first member of the Cayman Democratic Party (formerly the UDP) to officially confirm where they will be running in the first election under the new system.

In his New Year message Bush gave an indication of where he will be focusing his campaign and his hope for taking over the reins of government for a third time. In complete contrast to Premier Alden McLaughlin’s New Year message, in which he spoke about Cayman being on the right track, Bush said the country was on the “wrong track” and that the people had to think about the direction that they wanted for Cayman in the future.

Bush said he had a “heavy heart” because far too many people were suffering and had been left behind in the progress that Cayman had made and it was important that every Caymanian had a place in society.

The opposition leader said he believed that many problems had been caused by a lack of planning and vision and that “we must keep the Caymanian dream alive”.

He said that as the election campaign gets underway, he will be listening to people and will help on a personnel level where he can, but he wanted to work on removing the prejudices.

“We all know who is to blame for what,” he said, highlighting the need to deal with the immigration challenges and maintaining that the government and the private sector must be held responsible for training local people.

“Every Caymanian should be able to earn a living and…. have a place in society,” he said, as he raised his concerns about leaving too many “of our own people behind” and said society must be inclusive to be successful. To fix the problems, Bush said those who need the most help must be helped so that they too can be included in the opportunities available.

The WBW election council launch is scheduled for 5pm on Monday 2 January and will be held on Ebanks Road off Watercourse Road in West Bay.

See the full NY message here:

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Category: 2017 General Elections, Elections, Politics

Comments (104)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Well done Mac, pick the area with the most people who have received hand-outs and not hand-ups from you for decades. They are still unable to see that they are no further ahead than they were when you were elected for the first time. Neither are their children or grandchildren.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Did not see this coming…

  3. Anonymous says:

    I hope at least he will help finish the big churches that are sitting half completed. These are vital halls to use for storm emergency and the like. it would be a plus to finish them up.

  4. So sad says:

    Sir, May I suggest that you and your fellow colleagues start obtaining qualifications for your next set of employment jobs. You certainly will be needing them as I confidently say that it will be a cold day in hell before you and your bunch of followers ever get back into th LA.

    The LA is for Honourable persons of which you all are not. The truth hurts and I just slapped all of you like a father would a red headed stepchild.

  5. MM says:

    McKeeva and his 30 storey buildings on SMB – not sure what to make of this guy but Cayman has far worst options to choose from than Hillary vs Trump or EU vs Brexit.

    • Anonymust be kidding says:

      Time to call it quits Mac.You have done your time and wasted a LOT OF OUR MONEY. Take from the poor to give to the rich. Except for breadcrumps to get votes. RETIRING HONORABLY. You might get a state fumeral…

    • Egg Spat says:

      Not sure of all the options, but the biggest difference in Mac and Hillary is that Hillary isn’t called “honorable”.

  6. Anonymous says:

    feel sorry for cayman…
    their options are the circus cdp or the do-nothing ppm or a bunch of smallminded independents……
    sad times ahead…

    • Anonymous says:

      cant you pathetic people get your messaging straight? first it was the do too much/spend too much PPM and now it is the do nothing PPM? Well if giving us back our pride, instilling confidence, substantially reducing unemployment and significantly reducing costs for consumers is do nothing then I am happy for the PPM to continue to do nothing.

  7. Anonymous says:

    he has represented west bay for 32 years and just look what a mess that place is in…..
    says it all.

  8. Anonymous says:

    So he’ll be jogging in the distric?

  9. Anonymous says:

    Oh boy what a pair of blow bags to listen to. If this one gets in he wants his old cronies of Captain Eugene, Rolle & CG so they can fleece West Bay again.
    Say big mac, are the Hewitt’s throwing there support behind you or only your buddies?
    This election is really getting rank!

    • Anonymous says:

      What his gang did to the poor old Mr. Hewitt was really horrible. Guess these people have no conscience to there actions.

    • Come on people says:

      Maybe you have been under a rock but, CG is no longer in politics.

      • Anonymous says:

        He is in the background with his assorted ventures. Check the deals with Darty!
        Hard to get out once you have a taste of that sweetness.

  10. Anonymous says:

    whats funny, is every time he gets voted out, you hear him say ” he won’t run again” … … … … next election … “he’s running again” .. are you pirates keeping up to date with all this piracy that McKeeva be playing? How can you put Pirates in charge? cause we all end up Crabs in a barrel …

    Anonymousir

  11. Anonymous says:

    As someone whom witness Mr bush’s speech at a birthday party on Friday night ,all i can say is this man is delusional , he was slurring his speech, and would not get the hint that no one wanted to listen to him, he kept hushing the crowd so he could continue, completely out of line and go’s to show his arrogance and his self importance to himself, what is equally scary is that none of his CDP cronies whom were also in attendance did anything to get him off the stage.

  12. Anonymous says:

    mac has good intentions but the incompetent mess of the last administration should be of concern for everybody…
    all i know is any more years with the ppm are wasted years….

    • MM says:

      You poor unfortunate soul – good intentions from a man that spent your granny pensions gambling at casinos and is getting his with a 6 figure salary?

      We are doomed if more people out there think like you!

    • Anonymous says:

      He does NOT have good intentions!

  13. Anonymous says:

    AL Thompson’s have got to be very happy about this announcement…washing machines and refrigerators for everyone in West Bay West!

    • Anonymous says:

      Wish there was a Sad button…

    • Anonymous says:

      As a first time voting expat I’d really want my vote to matter, in connection with which I’d like to know if any of the CDP/ALT appliances come with duel voltage (120/240V)? If things turn out badly I’d like the option of leaving, preferably with the appliance. Any assistance most appreciated.

  14. Anonymous says:

    If you can afford to loose a quartrr of a million in a casino, then you have no idea what people go through if they can’t pay their water bill.
    This goes for all politicians.
    Stay home. Don’t vote.

  15. Anonymous says:

    What happened to the meeting with the gangs? How did that go?

  16. Oh boy says:

    What a mess…Alden on the other side fighting to help the rich get richer and Mac singing the same old tune….much afraid both parties have failed miserably! Time for new leadership!

    So far Archer would have my support if he left the PPM along with Suckoo and Connolly, at least I see a future with those 3!

  17. Anonymous says:

    This is the same man that ruin the country with status grants, and he wants to run again?
    Shame on him. This country deserves better!

    • MM says:

      Status grants were in 2003; we have had 3 elections since then and he still got in! Unfortunately his primary voters are the ones who do not read the news or cannot read at all.

  18. Anonymous says:

    PPM(Poor People Mistake) will never get back in the government again. It’s called the TRUMP effect for these islands. 2017 can’t come soon enough and that’s Progressive!

    • Anonymous says:

      Do you have any idea what you’re talking about? Can you explain this TRUMP effect to the rest of us?

    • Anonymous says:

      My friend the “TRUMP effect” that will occur here in these islands will be that the people will no longer be fooled by sly, shady, incompetent politicians that talk a good game and have no morals. The people will vote for change in character… thus voting the PPM IN again and leaving the money hungry fear mungers on their own and searching for an office job after this next election.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Mr.Bush. It’s over, friend. Memories ……..where would we be without them? Listen – and now listen good, mind – just relax in your hammock, sip your lemonade, and recall your glory years. They were wonderful, truly!

  20. Anonymous says:

    I’m glad he has taken up running. He could loose a few pounds.

  21. Donald McBush says:

    Make West Bay West great again!

  22. Soiled Son says:

    Masta Bush is a Son o Soil, just like I iz Soiled Son. Masta Bush good for da conomy cause he says he is an wot he says he iz, it make it so. He is fealess Leada with no fea of notin not even dem British. He shu tol de oda Govna dat “You iz in my House now”. He shu show im whose Ouse he playin in.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Here comes the Jamaican Rep because like he said Caymanians, especially his own West Bayers got left behind because he’s only looking out for the Jamaicans who can play him and PPM

  24. Anonymous says:

    At least he’s not running to China and Las Wegas for a change.Yet.

  25. Anonymous says:

    Bush’s desperate switch to caveman economics would destroy the nation’s economy in no time.

    • Anonymous says:

      Dartonomics will get him elected…then laws will be changed to meet their ambitions to own a mini Jamaica.

      • Anonymous says:

        You people need to stop picking on the Dart Group as they support us all. Just leave if you are so unhappy.

        • DA WA YA GET says:

          Whether you like it or not they are tied at the hip and they are to be held responsible for it.

        • DA WA YA GET says:

          Who the cap fit, let them wear it.

          • Anonymous says:

            What cap do the Caymanian people wear?

            • DA WA YA GET says:

              Are you asking me to speak for all Caymanians? Are you trying to get me to stereotype all Caymanians? Are your intentions anything other than disingenuous? Do you even know what a Caymanian is at this stage beyond a stamp on a piece of paper? Do you not realize that you wall fall into your own trap? Read what I write if wish to know what cap I wear, and I use differing monikers. Caymanians wear many different caps for many different reasons. Some are good, some are bad, and some are downright ugly. That is a commonality present within all of humanity. There are none so asinine as those who think that one can judge any given grouping of people in such ludicrously broad terms. Those people are termed as bigots and racists and otherwise generally ignorant people who suffer the malodorous effects of an ill conceived and utterly baseless superiority complex and I would venture to say it is more likely than not that you suffer from any and all of these aforementioned maladies. I know that you know this and thus I know that your question is neither intended to help Caymanians or anyone else nor is it originating from a constructive perspective. If I am mistaken in any of these assumptions please clarify by elucidating the context of your question. Next question please. By the way bo bo, I think that I now know which cap you wear and if it be as I suspect, it seems to fit you quite well. Say it aint so Joe, say it aint so.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Mac, what the WB folks need to ask you is: WHY, after 30+ years of YOUR help, are there so many “suffering? Could it be that your version of HELP really does nothing for people? Could it be that your HELP just makes them dependent on you?
    Imagine the difference if YOU had spent that time pushing them all to improve their knowledge? Not to look to you for a hand out? Not to show their children that this is the way it should be?
    Instead of running in WBW, just retire. Go and talk to the man in the sky that you seem to communicate so much with. Sing him a song. I, for one, am tired of your song sheet.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well said whoever you are.

      • Anonymous says:

        For a man who has been an elected representative for 32 years – about half of that served as a member of ExCo or as LoGB or Premier – to say that people were left out of Cayman’s growth and that gives him a heavy heart, I just can’t really deal with that. I don’t know what to say about that. He had more power in his day than any politician here has ever had except perhaps his mentor Jim Bodden. Mac has brought real prosperity to many people many of whom were already wealthy or at least did not need the help (i.e. their means exceeded their needs and they had disposable income already). The people he has never helped in the ‘teach a man to fish’ sense are those who vote for him, and mainly because he always gives them a few fish to tide them over until the next elections. That’s why you hear him saying he’s broke even though he takes home well over 200k through double-dipping. Those people still need real help and they associate him with these favours. It’s a compulsive loop his voters are stuck in. ‘Boy this fridge is gettin’ old, good thing elections coming soon!’ ‘You right that is a good thing, Mac will take care of it’. Cue hour long conversation by these two Bayers about why everything Mac has ever done can be explained and why even if he did bad things, he gets things done, and in any event he who is without sin should cast the first stone.

        Go back and look at the list of status grants he gave. Look at some of the expat professionals on there whose entire families were given status. Look at law firms now to see who they’re taking on for articles. A significant proportion of the current and recently qualified ‘Caymanian’ attorneys are in fact the children of these middle and senior managers and professionals who were working in Cayman at the time of the grants and held economic or social influence – and future votes – Mac sought to gain. Many of whom, like the illustrious Mr. Khan, had not been on the island long enough to meet the 8 year residence requirement we now have anyway! So even the people who had life fairly good – the Caymanian families that are comfortable or even well-off – he managed to make life more difficult for by introducing a whole new group of Caymanians to employers that walk and talk like those responsible for hiring do, but count as Caymanians for the purposes of demanding work permits from immigration – hence the perfect employee. Caymanians are now not just second-choice hires; now they are third, behind status-holding expats and permit holders. These effects can be traced directly back to the status grants, which were Mac’s idea. It started off as 500 grants for the quincentennial and once he or someone else got the bright idea of having no cap on the numbers, the horses were out of the barn never to return.

        Every country has its big mistakes. The block grant of the right to live, work, and vote here until death must never again be given away in such a cavalier fashion. That set of actions alone, after time has taken its course (children have children, etc.), is what will finally make ‘real’ Caymanians a minority in their own country and, soon after, second-class citizens to the future majority of expatriates, who will shortly thereafter demand the UK give them the right to vote and then reorder our society in their own image.

        Thanks for being in the wrong place at the right time for so long Mac – you made this whole country look the way you wanted it to look and its population comprised of the people you wanted. Enough rich people to give favours; enough poor people who need fish. The problem is, very few of them are happy and most of them don’t like each other! Also, there was no need for so much damn concrete! On a tropical island developers are having to buy and plant mature trees just to have some green on their properties. You really did pave over paradise and put up a parking lot. Honestly, the life of this man’s failings and faults is endless. He must never, ever again be allowed to make decisions on behalf of this troubled country.

        • DA WA YA GET says:

          Well said Sir/Madam, very well said.

        • Anonymous says:

          A healthy mix of festering resentment and thinly veiled racism. Buddy, it is not the fault of the families of middle class status grant recipients that you are mediocre.

          • DA WA YA GET says:

            What happen to you? The truth hurts?

          • Soldiercrab Shakespeare says:

            Regardless of any colour or creed, or national identification indeed, it is those who have so blindly grabbed for their own wherein the seeds of these thorns are sown, and that lack of integrity which has been shown. Having helped to tear the country down, as they fool only themselves with their conceited crown, as they wallow with contempt casting condescending eyes, within the sties of their own putrid lies let them once and forever be exposed as the emperors parading while wearing no clothes. Whether they be from the land of the red and white rose, or the hills whereupon the ganja grows, or from the lands with many fields of rice, or from plains and mountains of snow and ice, it matters not where from whence one came if the health of this house is to you but a game. If one has helped to further an indelible stain, for a fleeting and hollow myopic gain, holding hands with the predators who skulk in our midst whose roots are bound on these shores right here, whose tools of deception include vice and fear, it tells one and all that you do not really care. As time goes on, and you can take it from me, acceptance into a house can and will never be if one has aligned themselves with thieves you see. The charlatan he knows the rule of war, divide and conquer for evermore, it is the battleground therein where his loot is found as he picks and he plunders from among the gore all around. Lest we be all at once hell bound, tis time to bury this hatchet in the ground and let a mutually beneficial solution be found. That soul made of coal, whose trinkets are cast, whose ignominious being must be removed at last and rejected as a miserable mistake of the past. Lest this dirge take on two meanings for the time being I hope that it does suffice, for it does not come without a price. Do not sit on the fence, for an honest word he has not lent, for the Cayman Islands well being. Cast him away in the refuse of time, to fritter his ignoble and ill gotten dime. His return to the stage will be an unforgiveable crime, it is time to scrub away that most toxic of grime.

          • Anonymous says:

            You are right, that post was mediocre of me. I will rethink my life now. Thank you kind stranger.

    • The Man In The Sky says:

      I have tried communicating with him.
      He won’t listen.

    • Anonymous says:

      Why dont you run for your district, you sound real intelligent.

      • Anonymous says:

        I did but was not successful. I now think too many constituents want a baby sitter not a representative.

  27. DA WA YA GET says:

    Yeah right William McKeeva Bush, some of us are fully aware of ‘who is to blame for what’ and that is precisely why a one legged donkey suffering from arthritis would be a far better choice than yourself for any and all positions of supposedly democratic leadership and/or any and all positions of power and/or influence. If your ‘heart is so pure’ and your ‘hands are so clean’ would you care to rescind all of the opaque protections allowed under ‘beneficial ownership’ banking secrecy laws for any and all of those seeking positions of elected leadership in order to prove the veracity of your above stated claims of wholly altruistic and completely noble intent and agenda? Methinks that neither transparency nor the sanitizing qualities of broad daylight have ever or will ever be your friend by any conceivable stretch of the imagination.

  28. Beaumont Zodecloun says:

    That’s right. We sure DO know who to blame, and for which deeds.

    I want to know: Is there a law against an MLA serving from jail?

  29. Robert says:

    Must say Mac , u sounded very good when singing on rooster for Christmas , not bad at all , HNY .

  30. Anonymous says:

    Mckeeva for Premier!!!! Woooohooooo. Serious too fam.

  31. Anonymous says:

    If the people of the Cayman Islands put the UDP, or CDP, back in power then DOG EAT YOUR SUPER!!!

  32. Anonymous says:

    Read that as SOS More status grants, More hand outs. Taking money from hard working people and giving it away. I say no thanks.

    • Anonymous says:

      Absolutely right. He will not stop until he fill this country with people he believe will be politically loyal to him. Hell no to CDP!!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Agreed, his goal will be 100,000 residents.
      I can’t accept a word he says until he follows through with his claim after the last election- that he was not going to run for political office again.
      Once he commits to that statement, I will be willing to listen to any of his false promises… When he is retired from politics!

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