Bush holds opposition leader and MLA in contempt
McKeeva Bush, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
(CNS): Speaker McKeeva Bush was back on the rampage Friday, responding to comments made on a radio talk-show by the opposition leader and the member for George Town Central, after they criticised some of his rulings over the last few days. Before the budget debate resumed this morning, he said Ezzard Miller and Kenneth Bryan were in contempt of parliamentary proceedings and he would consider what he was going to do to them. Since Bush read members the riot act Wednesday before the budget debate began, he has been imposing strict conditions on members, particularly those on the opposition benches.
In his relatively new role in the speaker’s chair, the veteran politician has been preventing some members from asking him questions about his decisions and has refused to allow certain documents to be tabled.
He has forced members to move on when he felt the subject matter strayed from the budget, limiting the content of the debate of some opposition members. And during Bryan’s contribution Thursday evening, when the novice George Town MLA was raising concerns that government had neglected to address the subject of foreclosures in the budget, Bush closed him down, claiming that subject was not in any of the documents.
The speaker also stopped Bryan from referring back to the campaign, despite his legitimate efforts to compare the government’s promises on the campaign trail with the policy statement and the budget.
At other times the speaker has taken against the opposition leader for referring to his team as the “Shadow Cabinet”, complaining that there is no constitutional provision for independents to form an official shadow opposition.
Bryan and Miller raised their concerns about some of these issues on a talk-show before proceedings began Friday. But when they returned to the LA, Bush took aim again and laid down the law, insisting that he was following procedures and the opposition members were out of order.
He again called Miller out over his organised opposition, insisting that they were independents and only parties can have a true shadow cabinet. He said that just because the independents had decided to bandy together, he was not going to change the rules of the House, though he conceded that whatever they did outside the parliament was their business.
Bush accused the opposition members of taking aim at him on the radio because they didn’t like him or because he had not joined them to form a government. He criticised Bryan for complaining that he had forced him to speak when he wasn’t ready, suggesting it was an insult and that the MLA had missed the call to speak and scrambled to his feet at the last minute. Bush said that if Bryan wasn’t ready, he should have said so.
He also accused members of deliberately not showing him respect by speaking directly to other members, the gallery or the TV instead of through him.
The speaker took aim again at the members of the Public Accounts Committee and their insistence that they will deal with employment issues. He said it was not part of PAC’s remit and warned that he was not “new here” and after 32 years he knew all of the games, which the opposition was “playing well”.
Bush insisted that all of his rulings had been in line with the Legislative Assembly’s procedures, as he warned the members that he would decide what to do about their contempt later.
See the speaker address the LA about the rules on Wednesday on CIGTV. We will post Friday’s additional statement when it is available.
Category: Politics
these guys watchimg too much jamaican comedy man! ha ha ha??
Mac will fail at this as he has every time.
How long is he going to be in that Chair? Another Trump.
8 years if he’s like Trump.
Give me a break Mackeeva !!! You are the one in contempt
This is absurd even for Absurdistan.
You got bigger problems than McKeeva. You elected a bunch of wannabe overpaid Bernie Sanders.
Definition of Stupid: Knowing the truth, seeing evidence of the truth, but still believing the lie.
Acts like a Bump a cross between Donald Trump and Mckeeva Bush. “This is my Kingdom and I’ll do whatever I want!”
Trump derangement syndrome
Stop talking about Donald Trump who is a great president, look at the stock market, the highest in history and more than 2 millions jobs created since he was elected president, look at the Facts.
Oh, good lord, a genuine Trump nutcase in our midst – someone fit him with an ankle-bracelet!
Careful mac,you forget who is in control.for God sake we don’t need anymore embarrasementfrom you.
8:49 pm I am baffled that he was given that position. Where does reputation figure into this equation? Reprimand? Infringements? Who is speaking?
Alden, please replace the current Speaker with a dignified, objective and educated one from outside the Assembly and invite Keevie to become the Councillor for the mental illness Ministry. Surely you see the need for one??
He can’t replace Mac even if he wanted to, Mac has all the power in this situation
Diogenes
This is just another example of Mac demonstrating that he can not handle authority nor does he have any idea what respect means look at his track record
removed as from a Minister by his friends
removed as Premier by his friends
removed from PAC by his friends
soon to be removed from Speaker by his friends.
Whoa what an incredible track record.
8:09am When are we going to have an Speaker of the House? Come on Alden, you have let us down.
The Premier caused this because he needed Mac to keep his charade of a government together. They are both two peas in a pod. We should get rid of both of them in one fell swoop.
McKeeva you are a down right idiot and a disgrace to the speakers chair. I sat and listen to the debate and you fall short of a vote of no confidence you need to be stopped you are a disgrace to the chair and for the records I am a west bay voter and have voted for you all my voting life but I promise you never again. You are a disgrace.
Where is the old Ezzard he handled Mac with class on Wednesday and still managed to deliver one of his best speeches in the Legislative Assembly as usual very factual and well researched. The position of leader of the Opposition has certainly calmed him down a few years ago he would have reacted quite differently to Mac constant interruptions.
Now Mac is threatening him with contempt it will be very interesting to hear Dr Steve analysis on Monday morning. His Mac trying to charge OC Steve and Theresa too
According to Steve there is nothing in the constitution to allow mckeeva to find Ezzard in contempt. He also cannot stop the opposition from referring to shadow government and shadow ministers. Mckeeva don’t know squiddly.
All true but its making the best of a bad situation. Elections have consequences. If you dont believe it just look to the North. Blame the voters not Alden
For all his faults, the big fella is not nearly as dangerous as these two clowns
He shouldn’t be wearing that wig, he should have a shiny peaked cap to go with his shiny knee length boots and the swastika on his arm…he is out of order and I suggest the opposition (whom I am not keen on at all , but Bush unleashed is just wrong) should challenge him through the governor and privy counsel. He is overstepping the mark, big time. But then, he always has.
Just shows how much Alden thinks of this country. He Alden only cares about one thing and that is himself and his pocket, he is an absolutely disgrace for giving Mac this position
Where did all this come from?
It all came from the wig…big head virus I think it is called… Your Excellency, Governor Kilpatrick, please clarify for all of us whether we should now address McKeeva as “His Royal Highness”, even if we run into him in another casino. The wig causes forgetfulness too as we remember hearing him just months ago as Opposition Leader regularly lambasting the Premier and other Ministers, frequently interrupting them in debates, casting slurs, and even tried to correct Madam Speaker by claiming standing orders which were not always applicable and continuing to argue with her even after she made her rulings.
McKeeva, our Premier is no fool. He put you right where you can make an ass of yourself for the last time. Or else you can get a vaccination against the powerful virus affecting you now and determine – with God’s help – to begin to act and speak like the Christian you profess to be, speak and act fairly, decently and with tolerance – like our last Madam Speaker did. She brought dignity to the position you now hold. And had she held you in contempt for all of your disrespectful speeches and interruptions, you would have spent most of the last term outside the LA instead of inside. Sad part is, if you were the Opposition Leader now, you would be continuing with more of the same.
Bernie, whenever you are called upon to be Speaker, please follow Ms. Julianna’s example in the role and not the current Speaker!
Alden made a deal with the devil to maintain power at all costs that will blow up in their faces at this rate. McKeeva is now running the circus at the LA and is in control no matter what title Alden holds as Premier. They are two sides of the same coin who are kindred spirits driven by huge egos and a complete lack of objectivity.
This is just the beginning of some very strange and strained situations that will be very unpleasant and embarrass Cayman, the concept of democracy and the Westiminister system of parliament democracy for the world to see.
Guy Fawkes, does the Legislative Assembly have a cellar?
Your area of expertise
Diogenes
Mac knows and will use the inbuilt DICTATORIAL components of the undemocratic UK government system. The next 3.5 years will be scary years with Mac leading and Alden following.
Very long and scary 31/2 years but i bet it won’t last that long.
Big Mac is drunk off the power!
“Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”
It’s really just Another Day in Absurdistan
Second time you said that this week. Does your wife find you tedious too?
You mad because he is correct, or wha?
truth hurts?
Personally, I would only start finding this tedious when the comment stopped being on point. And without any doubt at all this is another day in Absurdistan.
Mr Ambassador why don’t you leave Absurdistan and visit the Cayman Is. just once. You might actually like it here.
Denial is not a river in Egypt.
I blame the fools in West Bay who keep on electing him for this mess.
Alden McLaughlin appointed him Mr. Bush Speaker not the WB voters. The PPM have the numbers to remove him from the position but that comes at a steep price for the premier and his patchwork government. One he cannot afford to pay.
But WB voters put him in the position to be eligible for this.
Sorry you are wrong, Mac agreed to be Speaker, then told his minions to appoint Alden as figurehead Pemier as long as Alden will obey Mac’s barked orders. Sad Cayman Islands government.
Fools? guess were you are from there are only ?
A true representative of the WB voters. Does a great job of displaying Cayman’s values.
Mac is back and better than ever, now we can see why he wanted to be Speaker.
If any of you think for one second that William Mckeeva Bush is going to sit quietly for 4 years and be speaker of the house like Ms O’Connor Connolly did, you are in for a rude awakening
He will have his reckoning in one way or another
The independents have opposed him in the past, the PPM has opposed him in the past and now he can lord over them and there is little they can do, he will enjoy every second of it
Diogenes
Like the speaker or not, the chair and the house deserves respect. Respect and decorum is falling short off expectations and gaining moment with some of the opposition members.
This has got to be a joke. Dig up all the articles about government transparency, accountability blah blah blah….then the Speaker of the House says speak on radio or report anything we talk about that may be unsavory. This country is doomed.
Mac is the Proffessor of disrespect, his actions disrespect himself, democracy and all the CAYMANIAN people, all for the greed of $$$$.
This man power has gone to his head again. Remember when just a short time ago how he use to carry on in there and at Alden too. This man just have no use and is scum of the earth .
For getting arrested at a casino in Florida, regardless of being charged or not, you sir, Mr. Speaker, are in contempt of your position in the Cayman Islands.
As seen in The Miami Herald…. http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/jose-lambiet/article162672133.html
McKeeva is now Alden’s protector as Speaker of the House demonstrating very little restraint or objectivity. It will be fun to watch for as long as it lasts
It’s not fun at all. It’s sickening.
Mutual protection here Mac and Alden need each other, if either one goes then both will fall.
direct rule please.
His removal from the post of Premier in 2012 was due to corruption allegations and an internal party coup. He was also removed from Exco In 1998 because of First Cayman Bank scandal.
But remember if they have to resort to removing Mckeeva by vote from the Speakership he and his political cronies will likely cause no end of trouble for the government.
If Mac and his two side pieces decide to up and leave the government benches, all hell will literally break loose and materialize in the Legislative Assembly chambers. That would cause the the current 13-6 member count to go to 10-9 which would mean that the opposition would be one member away from declaring themselves the government and “overthrowing” (for lack of a better word) Alden and his PPM lapdogs. It also means that the government would lose one of it’s councilors (because the speaker role would be empty and the opposition would refuse to fill it) and the vote in the LA would effectively be split 9-9 (with the speaker casting the tie breaking vote). That puts the government in a weak position and they would be hard pressed to justify their proposals against such a large opposition.
Alden knows what position he is in, that is why he is going along with this little “National Unity” charade. For now Mckeeva has more power and political capital than most people realize, he is the “Kingmaker” in this scenario he gets to decide who is on top and he gets to pull himself (and his sidemen) up as high as they want, because everyone needs him and no one wants to oppose him and his 3 votes. He might be the Speaker of the House but I guarantee you behind the scenes he is either directly or indirectly (through one of his two minions) running the show or putting up a good fight at the very least.
This political kingdom could crumble within minutes, all depending on what side of the bed Mac wakes up in before he sits on his metaphorical “throne”
Diogenes 3.0
CNS: Please choose another pseudonym. Diogenes is pretty a well established voice on CNS.
CNS not only are you allowing someone else to use the moniker that I have been using for months but you allow them to copy and paste one of my comments verbatim from another article. What is the point of allowing persons to use a name to represent themselves in the comments if people can just impersonate and or misrepresent me?
This is not the first time that someone has used Diogenes or something similar to the name when trying to mock or imitate me and yet it is still allowed? I am outspoken and I understand that some people don’t like that but allowing people to post with a similar name is unnecessary especially when it is clearly targeted at myself (whether positive or negative, I don’t appreciate people taking my posts and just putting them anywhere while using my easily distinguishable name) He could have easily changed portions of the comment to misrepresent the original comment. If the person was trying to quote me, where is the context and where is their actual comment and why are they using my name?
Diogenes of Cayman
Before you get on your high horse I used Diogenes long before you started to. Didn’t stop you from using it – there’s no intellectual property rights in an adopted pseudonym. Don’t like it use your own name – can claim title to that – or something else, but don’t get precious about it.
I understand how my original comment is relevant to this article that you copied, pasted, and posted it under but in future I would ask you to refrain from imitating me and from copying and pasting my comments verbatim.
Taking portions and quoting is fine and referencing my original comment is fine but when you re-post my words and pass them off as your own, you are in essence misrepresenting me, my moniker and possibly my original statement. I take time writing my comments and I would appreciate not being blatantly ripped off, while I understand I don’t own the information that I stated the comment was written with my writing style and crafted as a specific response or way to inform persons of information relevant to a specific topic.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but in this instance I would rather someone not imitate me.
There are dozens of other Greek Philosophers you could have been, Diogenes had students with names just as cool and unique feel free to use one of them and agree with or support me as much as you want but I am the original Diogenes in the CNS comment section and I would prefer if it remained that way
Diogenes of Cayman
Use your real name if you want to own comments this is the internet and nobody on this forum owns or has copyrights. Everything can be cut and pasted or will you tell Microsoft to disable that feature? Get a life mate.
Expecting someone not to repost his comment, while pretending to be him is ridiculous I guess
I am Spartacus!
Aren’t we all Spartacus?
Diogenes-Spartacus
The sooner it happens the better for everyone as this is complete madness
You forgot that the government can bring in a Speaker from the outside and so maintain numbers. WMB’s position is that strong.
Highly Unlikely
Diogenes
Unbelievable any comment madame governor kilpatrick?
Only a moron would call for direct rule. Have faith in your people and our leaders. Not everything is politics from the eyes of Ez and Arden.
5;49 pm, you are right, only a fool, a big big fool would call for direct rule. If you don’t believe it would be a fools motion ask Turks Islands people.