Bush accused of groping waitress
(CNS): The speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the former premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush, continued to make headlines Thursday as more details emerged in connection with his arrest in Florida last Monday night. According to a spokesperson from the Seminole police department, Bush (62) was arrested because a female employee at the casino where he was arrested told officers Bush had grabbed her buttocks.
Gary Bitner said the woman had sworn an affidavit and police had viewed video footage of the incident.
“The arrest followed an interview with and sworn statement by the female employee victim and a review of surveillance video,” Bitner said in a statement.”Bush allegedly wrapped his arm around the victim’s lower back and forcefully pulled the victim towards his direction. According to the arresting officer, the victim alleged he grabbed her buttocks while pulling her with his right arm.”
Keith Seltzer, Bush’s lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, told Cayman 27 News that Bush was innocent and that it was a cultural misunderstanding. He appeared confident that the case was unlikely to progress.
Bush was released on a $1,000 bond following one night in the Broward County jail. He has not been formally charged and has had no travel restrictions placed on him since his release. CNS understands that Bush will be back in Cayman at the beginning of next week.
Nevertheless, the news of his arrest and the publicity surrounding it locally and overseas has stirred concerns about his future role as speaker and a political leader. CNS has reached out to Bush for comment, but we have still not received a response. Government has also remained silent on the issue. Repeated attempts to contact the premier about the arrest and Bush’s role in the PPM coalition have also failed to elicit a response.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller told CNS that he believes Bush should step down. However, he said that he would be discussing the issue with the members of his opposition bench tomorrow, after which they would be releasing a collective statement on the situation.
Category: Crime, Politics, USA, World News
Its two sides to every storey
But, only one backside.
Too often people blame the victims. How many times have rape cases resulted in defendants walking free because it is basically a he say, she say scenario? what happens to the many women abusers? They get elected.
Apparently this is a he says versus she and the CCTV says scenario. A might bit different.
But surely this is a cultural misunderstanding, otherwise domestic violence and the gratuitous, casual violence meted out to young women by big brave Caymanian men wouldn’t be so common.
How can Mr. Bush’s Lawyer plead cultural differences when there is a law against insulting the modesty of a woman in the Cayman Islands ?
Sure, I can see (out of desperation) his lawyer dreaming up a “cultural” defense. But it’s doomed to failure, surely, because once a U.S. court accepts (alleged) foreign cultural behaviour (however out of sync with the accepted parameters of behaviour within the country) then anybody from anywhere can expect whatever is claimed to be “cultural” in their own country to be acceptable behaviour in the U.S. – which ‘ain’t gonna happen.
I’ve heard of casinos catering to “whales” but I don’t think this “whale” is their targer demographic.
All Caymanians should be outraged that Bush allowed his attorney to use “cultural misunderstanding” as a defence. Think about it for a moment: This is tantamount to saying that in the Cayman Islands it is accepted cultural practice to manhandle women and grope them. Feel ’em up, it’s ok!
What I get from the “cultural misunderstanding” angle is the implication that “back home” women freely allow themselves to be groped and that he naturally thought that women all over the world liked their butts groped, too. Bush and his attorney are essentially spitting in the face of every decent Caymanian woman!
I might have allowed for some mercy for Mac since I believe in being kind to dumb animals, but after pondering the actual implications of his defence, all bloody bets are off! My prayer for him is they throw the book at him.
It is bad enough that Bush has deeply embarrassed the Cayman Islands. But in using the”cultural misunderstanding” spiel, Bush is dragging this entire country down into his putrid sewer. It now matters not whether he is or is not found guilty, his defence is a vile offence to all of us! I am now among those who demand that the coalition immediately remove Bush as Speaker. Alden, MLA’s the ball is in your court! Do you side with a man who implies to the world that all Caymanian women are tarts eager for a butt rubbing? Alden, will you, for at least once on your life, grow a pair and demand that right be done?
On the bright side, the sentence for groping dealer is probably less than for dealing grouper.
@4:27pm – best comment!!!
“My hands are clean, my heart is pure……..”Oh, really?
Kind of off topic but I found it ironic that the MIAMI herald article refers to cayman as a “tropical tax haven” ; Miami (A city admittingly developed From proceeds of the illegal drug trade among other things) calling The Cayman Islands a tax haven….. its hypocrisy like this why the islands and her inhabitants should be on their best behaviour because it seems like the world is always watching and taking notes. Let’s give them a good example to follow is my thought. Happy retirement from politics Mr. Bush !
Some of them are so big today , that’s why you have to be careful about putting your hands on some of them , anywhere you touch she could make that claim .
I think that the new wig that he has to wear as speaker has gone to his head . But he’s a big disgrace to the Islands until proven guilty .
So Trump can grab the front but Mac can’t grab the back. Double standards I tell ya…
Leave our majority elected president Trump out of this, he has enough left wing socialists to deal with.
I’m sure you meant minority elected President. Hillary won the popular vote.
Cultural misunderstanding?
In Cayman he could be charged for “Insulting the Modesty of a Woman” which can command up to 4 years in prison… you can be charged for this even by verbally insulting a woman’s modesty…
He could also be charged for sexual assault here…
So how is Florida passing down a “misdemeanor” charge? The cultural misunderstanding must fall on FL’s end!
At long last, following Jim Bodden’s performance, Mr Bush finally qualifies to be a National Hero. I suggest a statue in Hero’s Square on top of a plinth modelled after a one armed bandit, maybe even holding a Government issued credit card over his heart.
Some hero indeed…womanizing grope kings learnt from their Scottish and Irish ancestors.
They could have learned from the congo as well as Scots and Irish.
Pigeons wouldn’t even poop on that.
With his right armed wrapped around the machine, pulling it towards him and taking a firm grasp of the machine’s backside?
Remind me about his good Christian values? I am a little confused. He looks very hungover in the photograph.
Nah…that bedraggled, red-eyed look is from crying because the little lady slipped out of his grasp.
Probably worn out through prayer whilst in the police car and being processed in the slammer, including the strip search. It really is pathetic, isn’t it?
Note his blood shot eyes. This is possibly due to too much alcohol from the losing of chips on the table, a casino card with declining value each time the wheel is spun and the surprise of being put in cuffs and carted off to jail.
You would have thought that he and his usual cohorts would have learnt their lesson about casinos from a couple of years ago.
A national disgrace you are old fella, what will those sitting in the pews think of you tomorrow morning at Sunday Church Service ?
“My fellow parishioners in this honorable house of Almighty God, I can assure you that my hands are clean and my heart is pure as I stand before you”
Yeah right !!
Well I’m not going back to that Casino again.
If that is the class of ladies working there.
They let me spend all my my money, then when they get me so drunk I can’t even get a little pet pet. What kind of place is that?
What happens in Vegas kinda stays in Vegas, now in Florida, that’s a whole new game.
You may not be funny, but you are a sad individual
I have taken my Viagra and I’m ready to go!
VROOM! VROOM… Come here Sweetie…
Big Mac has pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial. It’s going to be quite a shock when he finds out that dr. steve can’t argue his case, and that he can’t pick 12 west bayers to be on the jury.
And was arrested on an Indian reservation, where local, state and federal jurisdiction does not apply!
He could be tried before a tribal chief and be given a sentence of one week in jail – which is located on the Everglades and can only be accseeed by air boat.
For real. Them Indians will probably scalp him.
Great, cos that wig is so…damn…
That’s not quite correct. Tribes only have jurisdiction over their members. Not the same thing.
i’m planning on having some cultural misunderstandings this weekend!
Read what the Miami herald has to say about our esteemed speaker and his past run ins with the law.
http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/jose-lambiet/article162672133.html
See link so you don’t have to go searching for it.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about, I mean so what if he wanted to grab a lil back, we all know someone who likes to grab um by the front and he’s the president of the United States
So …. no truth in the rumour he bet he could find his own ass in the dark (using both hands) – and lost.
It is unfortunate that Cayman authorities have arrested the artist best qualified to memorialize this moment of national history in sculpture.
Brilliant comment. But hey, he’s been bailed and his lawn is still his, so no one is stopping him. True to his name, he could portray a little gropey and footsie.
We want to see the video.
Puore b-brurucratic harrassment.
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!
This cultural misunderstanding is clear. Apparently in Cayman, Canymanian men go around touching women on the bunky. Doing so is widely accepted as women understand their bidies are there to be groped.
USA fully of dummy strippers bro…what’s your point??
Yo, dude! In your sheltered life, it sounds like the closest you have come to strippers is doing some one-handed internet surfing in the free areas in the likes of ‘Babett’s Babes’ website. As for Moi, I have been to strip joints in Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, LA, Boston, Chicago, Phoenix and many other major U.S. cities. [And yes, before some of you get all ooooo and ahhhh about it: my S.O. knew about it, and even joined me on a couple of occasions.] Ok, I am not a paragon of virtue but I do not cheat. Anywayy…the one cardinal rule in almost all decent clubs I have been to is that groping or even touching girls on the stage or the floor will get you kicked out at best and even arrested in many cities. The only touching that is allowed in some clubs is stuffing $$$ in the girls g-string…and lap dancing. In clubs where where it is allowed, lap dancing is an exception to the ‘no touch’ rule; however, it is a negotiated and paid-for experience that usually takes place in a designated area of the club. And even then, in most places I have been, the lady will wiggle and writhe and jiggle and wind all over you, but you cannot grope her. In a lot of jurisdictions it is illegal to do so. So, now you know, bro, hands off the “dummy strippers”. OK? Of course, I wonder who is the dummy, bro…the strippers? Or the guys who love ’em? Some of the top ladies make hundred$ per night for about 5 hours of work. All from men throwing money at ’em, or stuffing it in their g-string, or paying $25 a dance to have ’em wind and grind in their lap. Anyway, now you know.
What is a dummy stripper?
Dummy stripper? Same as dummy writer.
Sarcasm is lost on you. YOU are the dummy.
Cultural differences? Isn’t that why Americans bring guns and ammo here, because they have a licence in the US?
Once again, proof we hold elected official to a lower standard.
If Trump can grab from the front Mac shud be able to grab ’em by the bonkey!
Bush as in wind reminds me of a favourite song of mine, Seminole Wind, the first lines of which are:
Ever since the days of old
Men would search for weath untold
They’d dig for silver and for gold
And leave the empty holes
Courtesy of John Anderson
Trump was a private citizen when he did his grabbing , not a holder of high office in his country,s government.
And it’s okay for a private citizen to grope or “grab em….”
And a minority of Americans elected him anyway. Hillbilles: Making the world a better place through the use of social media!
Hillary also failed to get a majority of votes. So, you point is? Oh..drats, yeah…that…point…darn, eh? Clueless commenters: Making the world a better place through abuse of reason!
CNS: Hillary won the popular vote by 2,864,974 votes. She failed to win the Electoral College.
so true.
There, there now infants: there is no proof Trump did any “grabbing”, just his bragging. If I had $5 for all the times I either heard one of my mates brag wildly about his conquests or I myself boasted about my lustful endeavours with the Sheilas, I could probably buy another Lexus. In Bush’s case we have…vid-ee-ohhh! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
‘A cultural misunderstanding ” really?? I thought he was such a righteous church going fella. Always seems like McKeeva has double standards he lives by. He’s an embarrassment and needs to be removed from being speaker. Why do Bayern keep voting him back in.
It’s no surprise who came forward with the “cash bond” to get him out of county jail the following morning.
Boy I tell ya Mac and and his cohorts really love casinos more than ever these days.
If Mac is charged and convicted of this alleged crime, would Donald Trump deport him from the United States ? Probably not, as the Donald loves to grab from the front and Mac apparently loves to grab from behind…….it’s alleged.
Who put up the cash bond..?
somebody needs to file an FOI on his gov CC for that week. What are the odds there was a 1K cash advance on the CC that night? 🙂
Panama?
Don’t expect any rsponse from the spineless premier.
It wasn’t HIM groping the lady’s backside, idiot.
No , the woman clearly assaulted one of his pure hands by placing her butt on it.
You are an idiot. Mckeewa is not and does not stand a snowballs chance in he’ll of ever becoming this country’s premier. Thanks to idiocy that resulted in this his latest arrest.
He meant it wan’t the premier!
What exactly do you feel the Premier should do? The LA elected Mac speaker, so they can demote him. The people of WBW elected him and they can make him resign as an MLA if enough of them a prepared to rise up and demand that.
The Premier can control who is a minister, which Mac is not.
Nice spin bro. You should be a political tactician/spinner.
I love the phase cultural misunderstanding. So if the lady grabbed Bush’s bum is that ok or is it a cultural misunderstanding. I do not know much about the Seminole Tribe and their culture but I guess they do not pinch bums. I would not want to take those folks on with their bows and arrows. They can get really upset.
You should read up on the Seminole people. They are a collection of people. Interesting.
Sadly, as we witnessed in May, nothing much is likely to change amidst the sleezy permissive landscape of Cayman politics, but I would like to see a revocation of Mr. Bush’s OBE. A formal charge in the next two weeks followed by a conviction on the multi-angle casino floor surveillance cameras would seal that fate.
‘Cultural misunderstanding’? My ass – pun intended. So he thought he was back home here in Cayman where it’s perfectly culturally acceptable to grope a woman without her permission. “It’s OK to do that where I come from.” If that is his defence that makes it even worse.
How would he react if a stranger came up to his wife in public and groped her against her will? Would he just laugh it off as a bit of harmless fun? I don’t think so.
Be assured that will never happen.
Anyone waiting for a statement from Alden don’t know Alden. Mc know him tho and dats why Alden’s lips are sealed. Neither one should have been elected now hold unna nose and deal with the mess.
Cultural misunderstanding? WTF? Is Keke really saying it’s fine to do this to a woman? If it’s not a shake down then charge him.
If it is a “cultural thing” then the people of the Cayman Islands really need to take a good long look at who they are and who they want to be. Personally I don’t want my daughter to ever think it’s OK for a woman to be man handled by anyone or harassed either.
I told my 11 year old daughter that if any boy ever lays a hand on her or touches her inappropriately she should either kick him in the balls or punch him in the face until help arrives. That’s exactly what this lady should have done to Keke.
It’s been 2 months since this clown was elected and already he’s embarrassed the country! Dr T this is who you wanted to be Premier!? We need laws in place to keep people like Dr T from influencing elections in future!
Cultural misunderstanding,,, OMG.. Welcome to Cayman to all our female tourists, where we can grab you by the bum, but hey that’s just what we do…, it’s our culture.. It’s getting beyond a joke now at this stage…seriously….
Exactly – well said. It is not part of Cayman culture to treat women as sexual objects that can be pawed (assaulted) at the whim of men.
What has the world come to when a former PM of a third world Banana Republic can’t play a little grab a** whenever he wants?
Mac actions does not make cayman a 3rd world country. No 1 person makes an island
“No man is an island”.
He is the F’ing honorable speaker of the house, former premier, and long serving government minister. I think pretty much anyway you look at it his actions reflect on all Caymanians.
Aww, he wa jus celbratin. Dem indians tinks the worst of everting.
Una fo fool or wat?
Is Bush staying at the Mar-A-Lago?
Na! Not taday bo bo!!!!
Or evva!!!
Big Mac would have pleaded guilty, but his lawyer didn’t explain to him that “harass” was one word.
Wha a see happnin.
Cultural – really??? So it’s alright for men from the Cayman Islands to fondle a waitresses backside. Says everything about a man and respect. Especially over 60.
HEY! Easy on the older gentlemen, eh.
Trump style lol
If the accusation is proved in a court of law and if this is a civilised country then without a doubt the Speaker shold be dismissed from office.
It is so sad to see Caymanian people thrown under the bus for a person such as this. He is NOT a representative of our culture.
No, he’s representative of a large section of your people, people who voted for him and continue to support him. You must be so proud.
Butt then again …….He is.
‘Cultural misunderstanding’ ? I am descended from Isaac Bodden, at least twelve generations Caymanian, none of which condoned sexual assault.
If I am a sixth generation Caymanian, am I more like to grope women?
Ezzard needs to step down. He was.one of those willing to make this man Premier.
So, based on Keith Seltzer’s response on the ‘cultural misunderstanding’, its fine for me to go out in Florida at any establishment , grab an unknown female staff member , put my hand on her backside & grab her around the waist as I pull her to my crotch ? No problem , its all good and there will be no misunderstanding on why I’m doing it . I am just checking as I going to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday . Keith…can you hear me now?
He’s Florida’s Steve Mc.
Cultural misunderstanding ? You couldn’t write comedy like this …’ my client , who as we all know is a god fearin’ man with clean hands , was passing by the casino when the lord spoke to him and instructed him to step inside and spread the good word and save the sinning souls. It was during this work of the lord that my client decided the best way to punish the evil card dealers was to use the time honored tradition of a west bay ass whuppin . So you see it was all just one big cultural misunderstanding. Or it was the governors fault, or David baines …not buying it ? Can I interest you in a new refrigerator or a turkey ? ‘
Mac. RESIGN. You say you love your country. Do the Honourable thing and allow a byelection without any input from you.
What exactly is a “cultural misunderstanding?” Sorry! If you are wrong, you are wrong…..no excuses about culture !
Well this comes to no surprise at all. Less likely chance of this happening to an atheist.
This is why we need an Atheist as a speaker instead of a Christian. Mr. Eden you reading this?
We’re getting a Muslim governor, will that help ?
Say whatever you want about Mr. Eden, but when has he ever been arrested???
SO, his religious beliefs don’t align with your atheism, so what?
Just to remind you also 9:06 am, the Cayman Islands Constitution (2009) clearly states Cayman is a “Christian” Country, not an Atheist Country.
Therefore, it would be asinine to have an “atheist” person as a member of Parliament, period. The Constitution is of course a parliamentary document.
If the Cayman Islands was really a “Christian” nation then the Bible would be the standard of which we base our laws. We all know this is not the case.
Thank God!
No. The Constitution does NOT “clearly (state) Cayman is a “Christian” Country, not an Atheist Country”. Only once are “Christian values” mentioned in the actual body of the Supreme Law and that clause only gives assent to same in a historical framework. “Atheist” or its analogues are not mentioned. The Constitution does NOT make us into a religious state. I am shocked and saddened that a Caymanian has such a poor working knowledge of the primary law of our country!
You can still be a pos without being arrested mind you.
No you’re wrong. Cayman is not a Christian nation, the Bible is not the standard of which we base our laws off in this nation and, the fact we have an Atheist chairing our human rights commision is proof.