Police silent after speaker’s interview

| 12/03/2020 | 70 Comments
Cayman News Service
McKeeva Bush, Speaker of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly

(CNS): House Speaker McKeeva Bush, who is currently on some undefined leave of absence, was interviewed by police on Wednesday in connection with his involvement in a violent assault on a manager at Seven Mile Beach bar last month. However, the RCIPS has remained silent on the progress of the investigation and has not said whether Bush has been arrested or not.

Bush (65), who is longest serving member of the Legislative Assembly, made a public admission about his part in the incident in which the manager was injured, which took place at Coral Beach bar off the West Bay Road in the early hours of Saturday, 22 February.

Police were called to the scene where Bush had been identified as the perpetrator but he was not arrested. It is understood that the victim was reluctant at the time to give a statement, but CNS has learned that since the night of the assault, the women has given a statement to police about what happened and how she received her injuries.

Since the night of the incident police have said very little about the inquiry. They have implied that the investigation would be conducted properly, that the position of anyone involved would not play a part and all witnesses will be treated in accordance with policies and the law. However, the case has been passed to a superintendent, a senior rank that would not normally handle a barroom assault.

On Thursday, the day after Bush had been to the police station with his attorney and a month after the incident, an RCIPS spokesperson said, “The investigation remains active and ongoing. We have no further comments at this time.”

Bush had issued an apology to the victim in the aftermath of the event and following a surge of public outrage. He also made admissions about his own struggles with grief and his resulting alcohol misuse, and revealed that he intended to seek a leave of absence from his prestigious position to seek treatment.

This was supported by Premier Alden McLaughlin, despite concerns raised by MLA Ezzard Miller that there was no constitutional provision for such an absence and that the speaker must resign for that reason, as well as the fact that his behaviour had undermined the office and the parliamentarians code of conduct.

Backing Miller’s position, MLA Bernie Bush resigned his position as deputy speaker in protest. This will force the premier to address the issue in parliament when it next meets, which is expected to be this month, though no date has been set.

Attempts by Miller and the opposition members to force the parliament to convene for a ‘no confidence’ vote in the speaker were thwarted by the independent member for George Town Cental, Kenneth Bryan.

The MLA, who has since been booted out of the official opposition, has struggled to explain his failure to support the meeting, which would enable lawmakers to debate the situation regarding the speaker’s admissions, his conduct relating to the assault and his leave of absence, which may be unconstitutional.


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Category: Crime, Police

Comments (70)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    The Police high-command is too politized – different treatment

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  2. JTB says:

    Come now CNS, all those references to our beloved Speaker and you didn’t call him ‘honourable’ once.

    Tsk

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    • Anonymous says:

      Can you imagine how thick of skin and devoid of integrity a man has to be not to step down from his position ?
      I think I just gave a layman’s description of a sociopath.

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    • Anonymous says:

      12.27am you too funny.🤣🤣🤣

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  3. Anonymous says:

    #heissupportedmorethanherorus. Reality. Cayman.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    8:15 am ,what a sad thought if you find the corona in your household ,seems like the earthquake did nothing to us now we got this

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Arrest his vile and violent drunken ass just like you would arrest me if I did that. I would get no “I have issues” get out of jail free card. This is where Cayman goes wrong, the politicians should have no greater rights than the average citizen. It would help keep them honest if it worked like that.

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    • LD says:

      Corruption is, was, and has always been endemic to CI. It is like Corona, it spreads due to ignorance and apathy. People are carriers and don’t even know it. They vote for it and protect those who obviously are contagious.

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      • Anonymous says:

        American here. You should see the vile, blatant, thievery, corruption, and steam rolling of the law being perpetrated by our president and his party in this country. Cayman actually looks pretty good by comparison

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        • Anonymous says:

          Not a very high bar…

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        • Anonymous says:

          Real American here. Fake news. but believe it if it makes you feel better.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Real American living in a totally unreal America. As an American, I say we can do better than this.

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          • Anonymous says:

            12:09, I am a real American too. A life long Republican in my sixties, who always voted Republican, but I can’t take it anymore. The lies, distortions and spin coming out of our President is beyond words. He is a joker and well over his head. Just look at his handling / mishandling of the coronavirus situation.

            We as Americans are better than this. I will be voting for Biden in November. Sorry if this does not make you feel better.

            That is not fake news “Real American”. Stop watching Fox News and come back to reality.

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        • Joe says:

          Keep your off-topic TDS nonsense to yourself.

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          • Anonymous says:

            It’s not off topic as Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus situation impacts us directly here. Can’t you see that?

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          • Anonymous says:

            So I do not want to hear a peep from you Joe, when you get the coronavirus and there are no test kits and vaccine because your man Trump is saying it’s “all a Democratic hoax”. Wake up Joe.

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    • Anonymous says:

      9.30 Vile, violent , drunken is a good start. Unfortunately the list is far longer than that.

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  6. Sick of unna says:

    Anthony and Julianna better NOT EVEN THINK about putting COVID-19 and LGBT in the same bleeping sentence at the next House session. If you do, I hope unna get stoned as you step out of that building, because unna too ignorant, backward and insensitive–we fed up with unna shit!

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Well, RCIPS can’t just drop or lug with the investigation. There are protocols to follow.
    Do they have The internal affairs division, a law enforcement agency that investigates incidents possible suspicions of law-breaking and professional misconduct attributed to officers on the force?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Are you kidding? Of course there’s no internal affairs. Why would they want that?!? How would they be able to walk out multiple heavy duffels from secured evidence locker, with $25mln in narcotics, and tamper all the CCTV, and suppress witnesses, if there were a credible internal affairs? This Bush thing is nothing compared to the real crime going on with active assistance from those positioned /entrenched within the force. There is a section on this in the CFATF report. Welcome to the Cayman Islands.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They are asking for witnesses…what did police do night of the assault?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Apparently the CCTV was broken but nobody discovered that until later!

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        • Anonymous says:

          So they weren’t looking for CCTV and don’t seem to have been interviewing witnesses….don’t they have a certain protocol? Especially for incidents where your witnesses could be tourists that could be leaving island tomorrow?

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    • Anonymous says:

      You are being sarcastic I hope! I’m aware of one case where a Canadian citizen had his passport seized while investigations were ‘on-going’ and he was stuck here for over a year. It was only when a writ of habeas corpus was filed in the Grand Court RCIPS decided to charge him. RCIPS are a law unto themselves, completely without independent oversight.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You need to understand that a good number of Caymanians are entitled.

        Canadians are certainly not entitled here.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    And just when Mac thought that he was alone in the wilderness, God sent the Corona to save him.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Who is overseeing RCIPS investigations?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Mac and his boys from the looks of it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      7.40am – mckeeva and his WB blind and deaf disciples are leading the investigation. What a mess we are in. But…. reminder all… God is still in charge.

  10. "anonymousir" says:

    Mac needs to resign … there needs to be a protest. shut him down like the port …

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    • OUT says:

      I agree with you 7:15! Let we the people PROTEST against this nasty behavior that should not be condoned by ANYONE! SHUT HIM DOWN like the PORT, SMITH COVE and let’s add Speaker to the list!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      No he needs to be fired. The politicians that supported him need to resign.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Is Cayman Islands still third world or not? This will be a defining moment. I bet he gets off.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    We all hope Bryan does NOT be voted back in next year so GTC, do the right thing and DON’T vote for him ever again

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    • True, however . . . says:

      The same applies to ALL districts, really. The million dollar question is, are there people who are qualified to be considered as options. We need people who completed tertiary education overseas, mostly because they observed how things are done effectively for bigger populations. We need a different optic of where the Cayman Islands should be heading and how to get there. Our Parliament should no longer serve as a soap box for religious zealots or educated idiots.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    the police farce will do their usual incompetent nonsense and everything will be passed off….
    be prepared for the ‘insufficent evidence’ excuse….along with ‘inconclusive’ cctv footage which has now been classified for ‘public privacy’ reasons.
    just another day/decade in wonderland

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    • Anonymous says:

      if there is any CCTV. And if there is, if it hasn’t been wiped – remember who owns the establishment.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Leave Honorable Bush alone all you haters, the man has suffered enough. At least Honorable Premier and MLA Bryan know this. They are true leaders.

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    • Anonymous says:

      loll.. this has to be a joke…
      If it not…. it people like you that need this Coronavirus…

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    • Anonymous says:

      He should be stripped of all titles. Actually, most of the politicians should be. Time they humbled themselves. They should be on performance based pay. They would get nothing. I still don’t get why Cayman politicians earn pay well over 100k (before perks) when UK MPs just got an (above inflation) pay raise to £82,000. The latter pay 40% taxes and (most) work hard for their money. Politicians here just Lord it up and take the pi$$.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Ever heard or read about Cost of Living?

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        • WWJD says:

          Hard to take that seriously when they don’t contribute to their own pensions, or healthcare, the way the rest of us have to.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Yeah right. An MLAs tax free salary is more than 2 times a UK MPs take home pay ( and the LA hardly ever sits). You seriously going to suggest that cost of living in Cayman is 2 x the UK?

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      • Anon says:

        So should the Sussexes but they also retained their titles.

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    • Anonymous says:

      God Bless Mr. Bush

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    • Anonymous says:

      9.39pm 👋👋 what an idiot!

  15. Anonymous says:

    Member of Public “Governor can you describe what a disgraceful act would be for a Member of Parliament, Member of the Legislative Assembly or any other publicly elected official”

    Governor “Well that could be tricky”

    Member of Public “How about Speaker of the House, Hon. W. Mckeeva Bush, and his recently publicize actions?”

    Governor “Well” and then silence.

    Member of Public “Your silence speaks volumes to the character and composition of the current government and you as the representative of the Mother Land”

    Governor leaves area, doesn’t allow any other questions and the Member of Public has made his point.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The governor issued a statement stating that the RCIPS are investigating and that in no way can he in any way condone violence against women. Why are you blaming the Governor? You wanted your own parliament and got it, and voted for the people in the LA. The Governor is responsible for Foreign Affairs and Defense…you get that?

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      • Anonymous says:

        You left out good governance.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The Governor has basically been stripped of his powers the last 10 years. Now that we are in a full blown crisis we should have direct rule and all his powers should be reinstated.

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        • Anonymous says:

          12.05pm I wish you would return to Britain if you are unhappy with Caymanians being in charge in Cayman and want them replaced by a British Governor. Basically what you are doing is calling for an overthrow of our duly elected Government. In some circles this would be seen as something akin to treason. Are you one of those agitating and protesting, maybe in an effort to promote your efforts for direct rule?

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      • JT says:

        Who holds dominion over the RCIPS? You get that?

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        • Anonymous says:

          JT , What you don’t get is that the person appointed to have dominion over the RCIPS is appointed by the Governor, BUT / BUT on the recommendation of the Premier. In 2020, the Governor would never reject the recommendation. The Governor’s powers are only now in the areas of Foreign Affairs and Defense. He has basically been stripped of his powers over the years.

          Sad but true. Especially at a time when it would be good for a Governor to put this place back on track for a few years.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Hey. RCIP. Equal enforcement without fear or favor?

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Corona virus is the luckiest thing that ever happened for Mr. Bush. This nightmare of a ‘human’ never ceases to catch a break.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    You need an outside prosecutor from the UK to review not the current gang at the DPP.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Get on with it RCIPS! We need to see some justice here and it’s not exactly a complex investigation. If you have any doubt about intent let a jury decide.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Den of masonic vipers controlling the Caymanian sheep. I have never seen a more placid folk than the Caymanian voter. Vote for shit, don’t say shit, get shit, complain about shit and don’t do shit. Bunch of shit, really. Get what ya get.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Please don’t allow the current corona virus charade to overshadow this horrendous event as I am sure the Government will take every opportunity so to do.

    McKeeva MUST GO!!!

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Thankfully the “speaker’ is silent on the subject of the wirus.

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