Bush: I committed no crime
McKeeva Bush, Speaker of the House
(CNS): The speaker of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly is insisting that he will be completely cleared of the allegations that he groped a casino worker in Florida last week. After returning to Cayman Friday evening amid calls for his resignation, Bush claimed he was wrongfully arrested. He apologised for the uproar caused by the arrest but said he had done nothing wrong and made it clear he would not be resigning.
“I am certain that once my attorney and the prosecutor have an opportunity to review the evidence, the only conclusion that will be reached is that I committed no crime. I expect to be completely exonerated in the near future,” the Cayman Democratic Party leader said. “I regret the attention and concern that my wrongful arrest has caused to my constituents and the great citizens of Cayman.”
A not guilty plea has been filed in the Broward County court by Bush’s attorney, Keith Seltzer, after he was bailed Tuesday on a $1,000 bond and no travel restrictions. Bus was arrested Monday night at a casino in Florida, where he was said to have grabbed the buttocks of a female employee.
Following calls from the opposition for him to step down, Bush accused Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller and “his band” of trying to destabilise the government and upset the country. “They should be the last to talk about ethics,” he said.
The opposition issued a statement calling on government to deal with the speaker and restore the “dignity, honour and prestige to the position of the speaker”. However, the government has remained silent and the premier’s office has said that Alden McLaughlin will not comment on the arrest or allegations and what that means for Bush’s future in one of the country’s most prestigious posts.
Although the opposition released what was said to be a collective statement, Kenneth Bryan, the independent member for George Town, said he disagreed that Bush needed to resign as he felt it would destabilize the government.
Meanwhile, CNS readers have been calling for Bush’s head in a poll published on CNS Friday afternoon. Almost 65% of the 700+ voters so far said Bush should resign immediately, and most of them thought he should resign not just from his position as speaker but as MLA for West Bay West as well.
Category: Crime, USA, World News
Ethics is badly needed within our Political Ruling. I am longing for the day to see that. Not too many can talk about the overseas gambling. We have so many in High Positions who are always jumping on the planes and off to Las Vegas or more recently the Bahamas. This is what you call Tea Pot cussing kettle. Can you imagine the election is just over and there are some politicians who has already been overseas more than once already. What I would like to see is an accurate report of all Politician trips per annum for the next four yrs. Also the cost of those trips.
This is just a disgrace. He represents our country, the Cayman Islands, and this is unacceptable. Cayman needs to let go and turn to the next chapter with out him. Cayman will be better off and we sure will be better represented.
“Heard It All Before”
Played the fool before (played the fool before)
you were my boo I trusted you for way too long
But your lies ain’t working now look who’s hurting now
Heard it all before
you know you messed up you got to know you messed up
You got to go now say what you want
But your lies ain’t working now look who’s hurting now
See I had to shut you down (I had to shut you down)
Played the fool before
I done change the locks on the door, yes i did and you ain’t welcome no more
But your lies ain’t working now look who’s hurting now
See I had to shut you down (I had to shut you down)
No woman no cry….
I blame the Russians.
The Cayman electorate get the politicians they deserve.
Try blaming Bush on expats pmsl.
People here just vote for the incumbents most of the time so not surprising that these dinosaurs keep getting
Chewbacca defence. We want a chewbacca defence.
Obviously it is Caymanian culture to be disrespectful to others and lie about it. No big secret.
So for every rude or ignorant Canadian, Brit, Aussie, American etc. I can assume that it’s just their culture then….
Don’t generalize any one nation of people, that is just plain prejudice and ignorant.
I think that most people will agree that politicians world-wide are dirty and greedy bastards. No exception in Cayman whether it be McKeeva or any other member of parliament.
Signed: Caymanian
Soon be a “cultural misunderstanding” for tourist to come ya and get robbed too then….
Thanks for maligning Caymanian women — and men, Mac. Hope we pay you back good and proper next election.
I guess US law enforcement will be checking their lying eyes when they look at that video.
Lets hope Border control reviews his moral turpitude when granting the next visa? Casinos and Groping- yeah, let’s grant him access? (nope!!)
The real “cultural misunderstanding” is simply that Bush needs to grow up and start acting like an adult. In fact he got away with this very lightly – I’ve dated women from the South of the USA whose likely response to an approach like this would be a knee in the groin, then while he was rolling round on the floor in agony they’d hit kick the c*** out of him. And that’s if he was lucky – on a bad day they’d shoot him!
Never mind this little fact.
They say eating rice makes you fat right?
Well why do so many Asians that eat rice are so small and slim?
Should we all eat more or less rice.
Do you think Mac eats rice? And exactly what is the price of a gallon of Gas in Russia?
LITTLE fact??? If you were a lady you would not think its such a LITTLE thing!!
It borders sexual harrasment! He should be held responsible and ineligible to be an elected member of our Government! Does not an arrest deem one unqualified to run for election?
Jus saying ……just my view!
“She even caught me on camera (it wasn’t me).” Defence by Shaggy.
Kentish Bryan…. Opinion… Really! Don’t let me laugh ; my lips are chapped??????????????
1000 to 1 Mac does not dare to read these comments, he much prefers to spend all his time reading one armed bandits.
His usual form is to read, rage, act all offended and call us names.
Pure heart, clean hands, they just happen to wander now and then… 😉
Alden and every member if the Unity Government that embraced this man and elevated him to the highest office after winning only 3 seats in the recent election should read this poem and hang their heads in shame!
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/a/al_wilson/the_snake.html
Maybe all Caymanians should read and think hard before we embrace most expats who come to our country and treat us like the snake treated that woman, That is what you are, a poisonous snake.
This is all the bright people who hate Mr Bush because he stands for us common folk. Get the bright people from our home. Mr. Bush will be cleared!
My, my what in the world is the island coming to?
No good deed goes unpunished.
My harte starts pumping when my hands are full
That sounds very rude indeed
This is hilarious. Caymanians can’t complain about Mac, they keep voting him in !
You mean West Bayers keep voting him in. Didn’t you notice that the CDP did not win a single seat outside West Bay and couldn’t even take all the WB seats?
Oh the rest are better right? Ha ha ha dillusional. Caymanians need to stop complaining about what happens in their country, it’s of their own making. The elected officials are all using you, and quite frankly who can blame them, you all let them. So you carry on Mac! No one is gonna do crap about it, you will get off all charges, and still be an MLA, speaker and get re- elected, so carry on, enjoy.
Well, then we have a problem globally Anon 10:24 am.
Because last I checked, the same thing happens in the USA, UK and neighboring European countries, Russia, China, South Africa the whole South America….best to say the whole world.
The entire world is being run by greedy, filthy, selfish men (a few women) who do not care about any of us voters or “sheep” as they like to call us.
So you see, all this talk about Caymanians complaining and not doing anything about it; there is nothing to be done besides not being dependent on your Government for anything, anywhere in the world!
Funny, his cousin George W. Bush didnt mention West Bay as an axis of evil.
Our Honorable Speaker of the House #1 should not have been near a Casino that caused him the Leadership in the past #2 Shows no regrets or respectnot only for shaming
The Cayman Islands, the Government and we the People. #3 Does not acknowledge his addiction and will not seek help. You have a problem sir and your lack of remorse is shameful
guilty or not. And you will fail us again no doubt. I feel sorry for your family. Please
At least cut the prayer bit and ask for forgivness. I am
not going to judge you but you will be judge one day and please try practice what you pretend to preach and stop pretending to be a Christian at least. Do the right thing and resign your post. Disgraceful.
Shame on all of you haters who find fault when a man is innocent until proven guilty. It isn’t a crime to be in a casino nor is it a crime to be friendly. If he is found guilty then perhaps you have a point but until then have some Christian charity.
@ 4:31, … I’m not a hater, but I don’t know of one thing this man has to be proud of. I’ve known him for 20 years and can’t think of anything he has done that he can be proud of, unless it is enriching himself at the expense of the people he is supposed to represent.
I’m a hater. Happy to be one when it is deserved.
A wise wise man once said,”Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”
Before he was stoned.
Did that man throw an entire Island full of people under a bus just to make his self look better? No honor at all. He has besmirched this Island one time too many.
Maybe if I grabbed your ass, you would think different.
4.31pm you must be one of those who vote for him as neither you nor he, admit he is addicted to gambling.
However, it is a crime to grab somebody by the ass without their permission.
Stupidity has nothing to do with innocence. Charity begins at home and pretending to be a Christian and not be humble and remorceful his a bigger sin. Time for him to seek help in the biggest way and show that he his a real man. Not a fake. We are not here to judge him because his maker will but in the meantime step down and get help.Then we shall see. Insult to Family and disgrace to country. Time to see what this new government is made of.
Anytime you see a sentence starting with….”all you haters” LOL
Well, you can forget that one. Only the smallest of minds refer to others as “haters”.
Do tell me what is “Christian Charity” oh beacon of light….is that what McKeeva was representing when he was groping a female staff member in a CASINO, no less?
You need to take those blinders off before you go stark mad! This man is no “Christian”, people like you who promote such filth as Godliness should be ashamed but rather you cloak this man’s sin as if he can do no wrong.
Yes Mr. Bush is innocent and these people are all making up stories about him. He is a good man and the leader who has our best interest in mind all the time.
CNS, please bring back the LOL button for sarcastic comments like this!
Just because you did it doesnt mean your guilty! Lol
Your: meaning belonging to or associated with. Used in a sentence as follows: Your Speaker of the House is a pervert.
You’re: short for “you are”. Used in a sentence as follows: You’re (you are) an idiot.
LMFAO @7:55pm. Priceless!
LOL button please return to us.
7:55 LMAO
Please go back to “your” basement.
Poster at 12:36 pm you say any statesman, you must be really young or not up to date on world happenings let’s start with Donald trump he didn’t step out when accused , not arrested but same spot light, Clinton didn’t step down. until people start understanding politicians are the furthest from being well behaved role models, they will always get their knickers in a twist when they hear a politician is in trouble.
I would never tell my children to behave like a politician , Why ? anyone can figure that out
Does Mac really think the issue is whether he is going to be convicted of a crime? He was back in a casino on our time, he was arrested and charged with assaulting a young woman for behaving like a sleazball and he blamed it on caymanian culture. His mugshot is all over the world. And none of this is happening for the first time. He needs to go and he needs to go NOW. The man is a disgrace.
Seems like Mac, Alden and Kenneth all think it’s ok to grope a woman. God help us. I don’t believe Marco would have supported this behavior. Kenneth you have young daughters grow a pair and be a man for once and stop kissing up to Mac. This won’t destabilize the Government you have a deputy speaker and you can elect a new speaker from outside the LA there is no fear of losing the Government over this because Bernie and Eugene would be stupid to follow Mac on this trip down the Rabbit hole. They will never return. The women of this country deserve more respect from Alden and Mac and anyone who supports him remaining as Speaker.
Isn’t it funny how everyone is always out to get Bush for crimes he didn’t commit no matter the country? Can’t blame the Governor or the British Government or the PPM for this one.
Will Premier Alden McLaughlin who appointed Mr. Bush as Speaker demonstrate the leadership and integrity to do the right thing and remove him from the post for this latest embarrassing incident? Or will it be more of the same political expediency from Premier?
@Wolf,….. Perhaps the man who appointed this speaker doesn’t know what to do. He seems to have trouble with his decisions.
Correct me if I am wrong but not sure the Premier has the power to remove the Speaker. Given the Speakerbis meant to be independent be highly surprising if he did.
Why was he in a casino in Florida on a Monday night instead of working for his public salary? Was he on vacation?
Big Mac will no longer be eligible for a US VISA if convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude (even a misdemeanor) So Americans please stand up and demand this man stays home and gropes his own woes. No more Florida casinos for this XXXXXX.
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/crimes-that-make-us-visa-green-card-applicants-inadmissible.html
There are exceptions, including the minor crime one – a single offence involving an offence punishable by 1 year or less in prison; which matches this exactly. So unless he is convicted and does it again, still free to travel and embarrass us all.
Hi Fred,
The US Visa application is not a guaranteed right, but a grant of privilege and is not automatically renewed. There is now a RISK he would overstay due to legal battles or personal problems? He cannot prove he is not a risk (admitted gambling problem…)
I hope the Border Officer who reviews his next Visa is as diligent as my Global Entry application. I saw two people denied during my Miami Airport interview session and I’m “betting” Big Mac may be next….hope so!
The jury is still out on this, as it also reads: ”
It also excludes crimes for which the maximum penalty did not exceed one year in prison and the person was not, in fact, sentenced to more than six months in prison”.
Let us wait and see.
8:40 But at the end of the day this still goes on his CBP file and they can always make life difficult if they choose to. One simple rule in life – entry to the USA is never guaranteed.
ha ha ga ha!
mini ,very mini Trump ,
BTW since when is “cultural differences” an acceptable legal argument. By analogy, if I am from Timbukstan and it is legal there to commit murder, I can murder someone in Florida and claim “cultural differences”?
Immature man’s juvenile behavior!!!!
It should not matter whether he is guilty or not, he should resign. Any statesman would do that because it is about the reputation of a country not an individual.
disregard … read that wrong … “Anonymousir”
Can we have a referendum and quickly vote him out? Or the politicians force him to be removed? This cannot be one of those jobs where you cannot get fired.
i like that, but Mckeeva may just pay his way out of it … and end up not guilty … i think its just time for a change. its been the same players for over 20years. Time for some new players …. “Anonymousir”
Whether he pays his way out or not he should be fired. I would like this to go out to the voters to make this choice. I do not feel this should be his decision to stay. It should be the ppls choice to fire/sack/remove him permanently. He should also be disqualified from ever running again because he was removed.
Unless you can show me in our laws or a legal precedent where a Speaker in a Commonwealth jurisdiction has been removed before conviction of a misdemeanor there is absolutely nothing that can be done.
His heart is pure and his hands are clean.
It would appear they are not considering where they have been.:)
If his heart is pure and his hands are clean then as of 12.06 pm God has wrought a miracle.
And I am begging for the LOL button back CNS!
and if this was any regular joe from the Cayman Islands. You would hear nothing but bad things about how this Caymanian has giving us a bad name. There would be no “lawyer” talking about “cultural misunderstanding” and no chance for a regular “caymanian” to pled not guilty because of a cultural misunderstanding.
What Mckeeva, the speaker just told Cayman. is that it is ok to go out and grab females ASS all night (after a few drinks). because, this is Cayman’s culture … oh yeah and WE love to gamble too, even tho its illegal. What about all the illegal gambling Mckeeva is said to be part of? This is a GREAT leader! Are we not proud of our voting outcome. Cause we still have MR.SHY (Alden) who is more than afraid to speak up about the matter. What a coward. Cayman has gone to shit thanks to ALDEN (PPM) and Mckeeva (UDP/CDP) … why cant the people of Cayman just vote these 2 jackasses out!! “Anonymousir”
we did! and those jackasses that we did vote in couldn’t get their own act together to form a government and so they are now sitting on the back bench as the opposition govt.
How much sadder can this get. Even if Mac is not ultimately found guilty, he obviously did something inappropriate enough to get arrested at a casino. Given his very public history with gambling issues and embarrassing himself and his country this is the last place he should be going.
Whether he is found guilty or resigns etc. I would hope that he is never elected again. Just sad what this does for Cayman’s image.
Oh my goodness, how long are we to continue to suffer this immature man’s juvenile behaviour? The Americans have got their hands full with that aberration in the White House making a fool of himself and his country, and we’ve got exactly the same situation over here with the “Honourable” McKeeva Bush. Would it be possible to send him into exile or something?
Good gracious, stop comparing this tiny speck of mozzie covered sand in the sea to the United States of America.
Just waiting for this kind of crap.
What a joke.
You misunderstand – I was drawing a parallel between the clown in the U.S. and the clown down here. Nothing whatsoever to do with either country, which I’d expect to be obvious to most CNS readers. Kindly moderate your language. Thank you.
MAGA!
Very classy response. Well done!
The British sent Napolean to St.Helena in the South Atlantic. As they still own the place, perhaps that might be a good location? Just an idea.
Perhaps he could finish high school while he’s there, under the tutelage of another failed Caymanian.
Napoleon was sent to St Helena to be excluded from civilisation. Thus there is no need to move Mac.
Thank you for the historic information. You appear to be saying Cayman is not civilised. Well,well, you are quite the comical judge, my British friend (you spelt “civilisation” with an “s”, an option for a Brit but never for a yank). But let’s take a look at your yanky friends, anyway, in particular their president and his opening comment to those scouts : “I said, ‘Who the hell wants to speak about politics when I’m in front of the Boy Scouts?’ Right?”.So civilised. Then good old civilised Britain and the Grenfell tragedy, brought about by greed and an utter disregard for the welfare of the poor and disenfranchised. So civilised.
You need to think much more deeply about things, I reckon. Sorry to pop your bubble.
Friend, try and meditate on what brought you to the “thus” part of your post alongside a much expanded knowledge and understanding of the real world. (I mean not that just contained inside of your unleavened loaf.) Your opinion of Cayman’s level of “civilisation” compared to other countries might alter markedly. Go on, sportsfan, give it a shot!
There is surveillance cameras everywhere in a casino the video will not lie
True, and I can just imagine Mac’s reaction : “That isn’t me! It’s a stitch up!”
And they have a lot better resolution than the crapy ones Cayman has.
Well you see, the person on the video grabbed her with his left hand and I am right handed your Honour… so it couldn’t be me.
Those words of his are all he had to say, in order to paint the ‘cultural misunderstanding’ picture for the poor folk.
Wow
This “person” not calling him a “MAN” is seriously sick in the head. He NEVER does nothing wrong!!!! and always blaming others for his screw-ups, really and seriously. He needs some serious help. Please get some ASAP
Sounds familiar doen’t it ? Bird of a feather….
Mac, this is not about a “crime”. This is about your lack of decency. “Hugging” a woman you have only (maybe) just met is not correct. Your behaviour is deplorable. Resign and then you can hug anyone who will let you. Otherwise, as a multi-generation Caymanian man, I really do hope you will “hug” the wrong woman and she flattens you with a good slap and a swift kick in your privates.
Touching anyone against their will in such a manner is not civilised behaviour.
Love the Tags CNS – “gambling, groping, McKeeva Bush” Couldn’t summarize it better 🙂
Bush has no conscience having the nerve to attack Mr Miller who is and never has been a gambling addict using government funds to fuel his obsession.
Many important things happen in cayman the lake of good education and most of the kids doesn’t have any funds to go university stop .stop talking about Mackeva most of the people that live in cayman the are always in the road drinking and driving.
Sounds like he’s going to pay off the casino worker not to press charges.
I say we take a collection and offer her +1.00 dollar over his offer.
What part of security camera having the tape does Mac the ole fool and idiot understand? He is a major screw up and the Govt needs to ask him to step down. Denial is not going to stop his addictions from happening again. Ask him to step down now!!!!
Alden wants to remain Premier too much, to have Mac step down. Think about it.
Birds of a feather flock together !!
Alden doesn’t need Mac to remain Premier. He has a majority of 10 seats without Mac and his two small fries.
So groping a female is ok…what kind of message is this????
Your culture is “not acceptable” in most countries.
The face of innocence.
The man is a Disgrace to the Caymanian people and to his position. If he had a bit of respect for his people he would step down however this clown knows that nothing will be done about it and that the Premier not saying a word? I’m I the only one Vexed about this?
These gov people are nothing but stagnant old men trying to rinse the country dry for what ever years they have left on this planet, what a freking role mode for the Caymanian Youths hey!!
No worries Devon that Govt won’t last the 4 years, they lucky if they last one. Time to go with signs in front of the L.A. and let the world know we don’t stand for what he did. Invite BBC and CNN.