Panton asks Bush to vacate speaker’s chair

| 17/09/2022 | 360 Comments
Cayman News Service
Speaker McKeever Bush (left) and Premier Wayne Panton

(CNS): Premier Wayne Panton wrote to McKeeva Bush (WBW) on Thursday, before flying to the UK for the Queen’s State Funeral, asking him to resign from his position as speaker following allegations that last Tuesday he sexually harassed at least two women at an official cocktail party while intoxicated. Panton said Bush had indicated his willingness to step aside but had not submitted his official resignation.

In a statement issued Saturday from London, Panton said he had intended to wait until next week, after the official period of mourning, but had been forced to address the issue as a result of claims made by Agriculture Minister Jay Ebanks. The premier said it was disappointing that some members of Parliament cannot exercise restraint.

“Prior to departing for London on Thursday afternoon, 15 September, I issued a strongly worded letter to the Speaker suggesting that he resign on, or before, Friday, 23 September 2022. Whilst a formal written resignation has not been given, I can confirm that I received several messages from Mr Bush on Friday morning stating multiple times his intention to resign as Speaker,” the premier said.

On Friday evening, Alric Lindsay, a close ally of Minister Jay Ebanks, writing on the digital media platform Loop, credited the agriculture minister with persuading Bush to step down and said that the veteran West Bay MP had agreed.

“While the police investigation is not yet complete, the allegations are serious. In this case, the first step is to relieve Mr Bush from his duties as Speaker,” Ebanks reportedly told Loop, adding, “Mr Bush understands this and has therefore agreed to step down as Speaker.”

Panton noted that he had planned to wait until after Bush had submitted his written resignation to the clerk of Parliament before issuing any further statement on this matter, given that he is in London for the Queen’s funeral.

“As we conclude the final days of the Official Period of National Mourning, I encourage all residents to show respect and exercise restraint,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bush was quoted in the Loop article as stating that he had considered his constituents, colleagues and family and would step aside, but the veteran politician took no responsibility for the situation. “Enough of this, enough and the accusations aren’t going to stop as long as I hold a post in government,” he is quoted as saying.

Bush has not been arrested or formally accused of any crime. But it was evident that the West Bay MP was both intoxicated and behaved inappropriately at the tourism ministry cocktail event at the Ritz-Carlton during the CTO Conference, attended by both dignitaries and press from around the Caribbean region.

Bush is currently in Honduras with Ebanks, engaging once again in government business, even though he is not a member of Cabinet or the PACT caucus. CNS has made two requests to the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing, and Infrastructure (PAHI) for details on why Bush has been travelling with the minister and we are still awaiting a response.

We have been able to confirm that chief officers are usually required to approve expenses for their ministers’ trips and approve the delegation. However, CNS has learned that, as speaker, Bush has control over his own travel expenses within the budget for what is now an independent Parliament, which, according to one official, is left to his own discretion.

See the letter sent from the premier to Bush and the official statement from the premier below:


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Category: Politics

Comments (360)

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  1. Feel So Sorry For The Premier says:

    What no one is remembering is that Mr. Bush is still an [elected representative] also. He should have been made to resign both positions. Cayman is the only place in the world where politicians can have certain backgrounds and conduct and still get elected to the higher political offices.

    Voters threw Ezzard out; they threw Arden out; they didn’t want PPM. They didn’t vote for Mario Ebanks, etc.

    Well any “independent” candidate should surely cause the public to realize that independent candidates carry their ‘independent’ thinking and want their ‘independent’ way. Certain MPs are trying to run their ministries ‘independent’ of Cabinet and the Premier. It can be no solid arm-in-arm formation of a government, or a [lasting] government with so many ‘independent’ candidates. I really do not like Party politics but the Party politics works better because at least everybody is in allegiance to their party. I know the Premier must feel so embarrassed and regretful with the candidates that he put his own money out of pocket to support. Now those very candidates are showing their very strong-willed ‘independent’ characteristics. They’re running the government on their own with their respective ministries. I mean two particular Ministers are blatantly running their own show!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Andre and Saunders are running the show.

    • Anonymous says:

      Voters continue to whine and complain about obvious status quo corruption, even when they are the ones that must petition with their signatures to have the Election Law changed to disqualify those with criminal convictions or serious DUI Traffic Court convictions. We know that Cayman’s MPs are generally of such low character that they won’t seek to apply a more rigorous standard to their own enjoyed and perceived impunity. The Premier has even gone on record recently to say that any Cabinet member that disagrees with policy will be ousted. The voters must collectively put the entire LA on Notice that the wind has shifted against self-dealing autocrats and misogynists. If not, expect more of the same and worse.

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  2. Hancock says:

    Parliament reminds me of Oregon State Hospital, the mental facility and location for filming One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest starring MaC Nicholson.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    One of the pieces of this debacle that is getting little attention is the matter of Bush and Jay Ebanks being in Honduras on official government business and nobody seems to have any idea what they are doing there. This is taxpayers’ money, and believe me it will be first class all the way. Are they not accountable at all?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Oh come on, we all know what the attraction of Honduras is.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yep. All is quiet to what they are up too. And believe me the cartels are watching them too.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The PACT unofficial public media arm, CMR, will likely spin this in PACT’s favour “PACT Premier did what PPM Premier did not have the courage to do during their reign”. That is, to ask the Speaker to step down after his embarrassing indiscretions. Interestingly, PACT was quite happy to put the Speaker in the role of Kingmaker in order to secure the position of Premier and the CMR played its role in cajoling and bullying newly appointed elected MPs to hitch on to the PACT wagon. Now we have this mess. Why is there official business to be conducted over a long weekend in Honduras by the Speaker and Minister of Agriculture during the period of mourning for our Beloved Queen? Inquiring minds want to know….

      As Dr Frank McField’s play says “Time Longer Dan Rope”….

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    • Anonymous says:

      Wasn’t it MacDaddy who told a previous Govenor on his first visit to the LA that “cockroach don’t have no business in rooster fight? Obviously he didn’t pass on the message to jaybird!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Mr Seek-her’s discretionary expense account

    • Anonymous says:

      How did Bush still hold his passport, and glide through clean first class check-in, while under police criminal investigation/parole violation? Where does RCIPS/WORC/CBC/DPP set the recidivist threshold for probable flight risk? Should we ask Franz?

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      • Anonymous says:

        I dislike Mac as much as the next guy, but you are being ridiculous. Flight risk? When he didn’t flee the country prior to his last 2 trials? When he hasn’t even been charged with anything? When his “parole” – home arrest for 20 days – expired over a year ago, and his suspended sentence for the remaining 40 days only kicks in if he is convicted of another offence (see earlier comment re not even being charged yet). We are going to start confiscating passports when people are accused in social media of sexual harassment? SMH. Mac will be back once he has finished having a final jolly and enjoying all that Honduras has to offer him (and of course Jay) on the tax payers dime.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Wayne: Mac, I am asking you to vacate the speaker’s chair.
    Mac: You didn’t say please.
    Wayne: Mac, I am asking you to please vacate the speaker’s chair.
    Mac: Say pretty please.
    Wayne: Mac, will you vacate the speaker’s chair, pretty please?
    Mac: Nah, I’m good.
    Wayne: If you don’t vacate the speaker’s chair voluntarily, we will have to do it involuntarily.
    Mac: Ha ha. Good one.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Can the people petition for direct rule?

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    • Anonymous says:

      yes

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    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      Yes, we could conceivably create a People Referendum requesting direct rule, however we would be absolute idiots to do so. Better we should fix our problems than to ‘throw ourselves upon our swords’ out of desperation for our inability to do the right thing for ourselves.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The problem is much deeper than just Mac. Cayman’s voters don’t yet have the principled sense to petition for easy and logical Elections Law changes that would disqualify a big section of the perpetual bad actors in the LA and CIG action. Quite the opposite, many voters truly feel they benefit from backchannelling their corruptible MP for special consideration and favours, regardless of what the law might be. It’s a powerful special access service lane, depending on who’s asking. These are the dark forces of Cayman that produce astounding outcomes, that seem contrary to all sense and law.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Except that we can’t fix our own problems.

    • Anonymous says:

      No.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    In December 2020 Bush was sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for two years on condition he behaves himself during the period of suspension.

    I’m no mathematician, but it seems to me that he is in danger of being recalled for immediate incarceration.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Wayne,

    My mother always told me that you sleep how you make your bed.

    You were hellbent on becoming Premier and you brushed aside any sort of good judgement to get it.

    Electing the same Mr. Bush, as the same speaker, an individual and position which you claimed made you resigned from PPM, was truly an act of swallowing your own vomit. You recklessly gambled, knowing full well that this would highly likely repeat itself.

    Now it come home to roost, you deal with it.

    The fact that one of the members of your government is “hanging out” with the accused should be very concerning to you. That’s the bed you made.

    Good luck!!!!

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  8. Anonymous says:

    surely no alcohol consumption is a condition of his probation? at least there should be a breach charge

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Looks like it’s time to just run the cayman parliament from London, or just have uk foreign dignitaries here like the governor, and get rid of these incapable caymanian politicians.

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    • 7th Generation Caymanian says:

      UK government is an embarrassment riddled with its own scandals, incompetence and skullduggery. Boris and the boys are far worse than what we have here. Truss will be just as shambolic.

      Our Governor and his double standards are part of the recent problems with the administration of the Cayman Islands. So save us your pathetic suggestions and “sling your hook” back to jolly ole England if you think that is the best place to live or option to govern this OTC.

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    • Anonymous says:

      no thanks but feel free to go to the UK and stsy there

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      • Anonymous says:

        Be careful what you wish for 9.26.
        If Bush, Saunders and Kenneth take charge, thousands will do exactly that, talking with them all that you now take for granted.

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        • Anonymous says:

          More talk….no one is holding you back….just go

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          • Anonymous says:

            You forget that it was the Bahama’s Independence that created Cayman’s financial industry and consequent prosperity.
            Their equivalent of Mac, Saunders, Kenneth and Jay was the “Bay Street boys “ that money couldn’t trust, hence the flight to Cayman.

    • Anonymous says:

      you underestimate the reach of cayman politics. you would be surprised the amount of power and pull the cayman entities have over counterparts in the UK. remember, the UK is in a really bad place now and at the end of the day money is money and a benefit is a benefit and a human is a human.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Can you imagine a Cabinet of Wayne Roy Joey Andre Issac Sabrina Barbara and Kathy.

      3 women
      No liars
      No bully’s
      No one that hates successful caymanians.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Spoken like a true colonialist.

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  10. KnightsInShiningArmour? says:

    Wayne, reach across the aisle to Roy and Alden and cut out Mac and the rest of the cancer at the heart of your Government. You, Roy and Alden may not see eye to eye but the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

    Lock arms and weed them out for good. Go back to sparring with each other later after we have put Government back on an even keel. We need unity to remove an infestation which has become chronic and will eventually destroy our country if not dealt with immediately and decisively.

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    • Anonymous says:

      A Mac Kenny Saunders Jay Seymour government will drive away investment.
      Money does not like 3rd world banana republic administrations led by uneducated unemployables.

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    • Anonymous says:

      here here

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    • Anonymous says:

      Roy yes.
      Alden NO!

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    • Anonymous says:

      First reading this thought it was fantasy stuff – but….make Roy the Deputy Premier and give him Finance, Alden can be the Speaker which should appeal to his ego – brings in 6 PPM votes, still enough ministerial positions to keep the PACT loyalists and the PPM foot soldiers happy whilst allowing Wayne to have a Cabinet with some discipline in it, and get rid of Kenny and Jay who have clearly demonstrated both dangerous linkages to Mac, complete self interest and generated some unpleasant odours about what is driving their policy choices.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Before anyone gets too excited this is alleged sexual harassment not assault. The accused has access to top lawyers too. He might lose the speaker position but will likely remain an MP.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Irregardless, still a violation of the terms of his current free papers.

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      • Anonymous says:

        How so? Sexual harassment is not a crime. Might break a code of conduct but it would have to be a civil suit otherwise.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Wait for the facts. Harassment and assault are not mutually exclusive. The same act may constitute both.

        • Anonymous says:

          “Sexual harassment is not a crime”

          11:07, put down the crack pipe.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Or read the laws of the Cayman Islands. Think about it and why corporations have policies of sexual harassment but not sexual assault. It is because the latter is encoded into law.

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    • Anonymous says:

      How do you know it wasn’t assault ?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Because it says harrassment

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        • Anonymous says:

          Harassment and assault are not mutually exclusive. The same act may constitute both.

          • Anonymous says:

            You are introducing academic arguments beyond what we know. As of this time is is harassment that has been reported not assault. Both are bad, but one not as bad as the other in the eyes of the law.

    • Lomart says:

      So far, the only thing he has been asked to do, is to step down as Speaker. Nothing at all about his MP role. WBW wouldn’t know how to live without him!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Because he can’t be fired as an MP, unlike a minister or indeed the government, a vote of no confidence is not enough and we have no recall provisions in Cayman law for MPs. Only way to get rid of him is if he becomes ineligible to be an MP e.g. gets convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or carrying a sentence of greater than 12 months in jail. Or of course you dissolve parliament and pray that the good people of WBW don’t elect him again (good luck with that Hail Mary pass).

    • A Resident says:

      Yes, and the not so bright people in West Bay will re-elect him as he is treated as a God in West Bay by the Christian folk there.

      Can’t believe this turkey keeps getting elected in West Bay. There is something wrong with people in his constituency. Their moral compass is completely off.

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      • Anonymous says:

        8:13, Everyone in his constituency should be made to perform some sort of test before they are allowed to wote again or just banned form woting if he is allowed to put his name on a ballot ever again.

    • Sun Not Fully Shinning Yet says:

      Look up the definition of “assault” in the law.

  12. Anonymous says:

    We don’t know the half of what has gone on with this man. Can someone please write a book anonymously? Guaranteed money maker and I think we all deserve to know.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    He should be permanently fired as an MP and stripped of his “honourable”. Not only embarrassing for Cayman but disrespectful to the honours system, the Queen (God rest her) and all she stood for.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    For Mac and others!! All Chasing power and money with no regard for the best for our beloved Island or our people! Photos in the Media embracing big shot developers, but not a clue, care or thought how our children and grandchildren will even be able afford a piece a land when the time comes, if it hasent allready been taken. They ain’t gotta worry with their Fat paychecks and guaranteed benefits. Here’s a idea, drop Mp’s salary to say 60k per annum we will see who will be breaking they neck get up inside there.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You don’t get it do you – its not the salary that they are after.

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      • Anonymous says:

        @2.58 I do get it! The salary is like appetizer before a main course! More to be gained by high profile approval deals. However, certain Mp’s would never see a guaranteed 20k per month for uttering foolish thoughtless ideas out of their mouth in this lifetime in no other circumstance, we’re on the same page

  15. Anonymous says:

    Hon. Premier Wayne Panton decided that it was better for the Cayman Islands to have him as Premier and Mackeeva as Speaker than Hon.Roy McTaggart as Premier. I regret to say it was also an act of hypocrisy as Wayne Panton had publicly quit the Progressives stating the reason that now Sir Alden McLaughlin then Premier had not forced Mackeeva to resign. Now Panton deserves the resulting mess but the Cayman Islands does not.

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    • Anonymous says:

      But here’s the rub. It is you and me and our precious children who suffer as a result, not just him. So don’t run off celebrating Wayne getting what he ‘deserves’.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Regardless of what happens with Mac, he will always have a voice and pull the strings of one Jay Ebanks.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Bush is a national disgrace, but the people that keep electing him are an even bigger disgrace.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes! Right behind the appalling conduct of the ministers, is the completely disgraceful record of the Island’s electorate. Under-educated, mis-informed, under-employed, prone to bribes for votes, promises of future favors… No wonder the island is such a mess.

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      • Anonymous says:

        McKeeva was supported by many esteemed – or not so much- past representatives in making decisions and passing laws to the detriment of the Caymanian people. When people no longer know their own worth it is much easier for them to believe a hand out now and then is the best they can do – very sad.

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    • Anonymous says:

      @10:18:
      You neglected to include the key disgraceful player that led to Mac being Speaker in spite of his past disgraceful behaviour: Wayne Panton. Panton needed a sufficient number to form his Panton-PACTless Clown Car government and thus, he cut a deal with the devil to get him onboard so that Panton and fellow minions could be assured of forming a government. THAT shamelessly self-serving act by Panton and minions was breathtakingly disgraceful, and it was unbelievably disrespectful to the good people of the Cayman Islands. Panton is an integral part of the national disgrace.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Well said. He wanted power by any means. Now they are backraising him and showing him that he is not their leader. Dah wah he get.

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    • Anonymous says:

      A national disgrace that knows all the politicians’ secrets. We need a clean sweep.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Bush is a serial offender, period.
    This is a show of the failing of our country. Allowing this type of behaviour to go unpunished set a precedent that elected officials, especially males can do what they want towards women and not be held accountable.

    EVERY SINGLE PERSON should act like this was their daughter that was harrassed or molested by Bush when making decisions about his future.

    He is a disgrace.

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  19. BYOB says:

    Words are cheap. Let’s see what happens not what is said.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    What a waste of time. Run it all from London.

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    • Anonymous says:

      To 12.09 London is doing such a great job of confusion at home that we need them to export it? Really.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    How long will the Govt continue to sweep things under the rug? They care more about the almighty dollar than their country/people. And I don’t care which side they are on…

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    • Junius says:

      You have a very good point. It certainly appears to be, unfortunately, what occurs.

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    • Anonymous says:

      How long will the Govt continue to sweep things under the rug?

      Well, when one of the 19 has the islands largest cleaning business…..

  22. Anonymous says:

    The judgment states the following relevant section:

    “for the offences of common assault I impose a sentence of 60 days’ imprisonment on each count concurrent for 2 years. … What this means is that the Defendant will serve a third of his sentence under house arrest and the remaining two-thirds will be held in abeyance as long as he doesn’t commit any new offences over the next 2 years.”
    : Magistrate Gunn, 21st December 2020

    Question: what happens now if the women lawyer up since it’s September 2022 and less than 2 years where McKeeva was NOT supposed to commit any new offences?

    Is McKeeva now sentenced to the original 60 days imprisonment when he pled guilty to common assault in 2020?

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    • Anonymous says:

      @10:52:
      It does not matter from a criminal case standpoint if the women “lawyer up”. What is relevant is if the police arrest him and the Director of Public Prosecutions brings a case in this instance, and whether Bush is found guilty of committing an offense. How the previous judgement is carried out depends on how the court rules on the apparent breech of the condition of no new offenses should Bush be found guilty of new offenses.
      It would appear that Makeewah could be in a world of doo doo.
      (Wave to Mac when you see him working along the road in his flashy new neon jumpsuit. It will be the only time you witness Bush trying to keep Cayman clean.)

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    • Anonymous says:

      To Anonymous 10.32 & 10.52 Only 40 days remain of the original sentence.

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    • Say it like it is says:

      He now needs to be prosecuted for sexual harassment and sentenced to more than a year in jail for a second offence.. He will then have to stand down as an M.P. and at long last we will finally be rid of him.

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      • Anonymous says:

        He was convicted of common assault the first time, not sexual harassment. So not a second offence. Even if it was, maximum sentence for common assault is 12 months irrespective of priors. And you have to ask your self why he was charged with common assault in the first place – usually reserved for harsh words and a scuffle, not choking and beating people with an object and leaving obvious bruising – where actual bodily harm would seem more appropriate. The cynical might say that it was because the maximum sentence is 12 months – so even if he had the maximum the first time around, he would still be eligible as an MP. If that is the case what do you think the chances are of a 12 month plus term this time around, with no complainants and apparently no physical harm? Think you are being more than a little naive.

        PS Not sure sexual harassment is even a criminal offence in Cayman – it would have to be an assault based charge or perhaps offending the modesty of a woman.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    “for the offences of common assault I impose a sentence of 60 days’ on each count concurrent for 2 years. … What this means is that the Defendant will serve a third of his sentence under house arrest and the remaining two-thirds will be held in abeyance as long as he doesn’t commit any new offences over the next 2 years.”
    : Magistrate Gunn, 21st December 2020

    Question: what happens now if the women lawyer up since it’s September 2022 (3 months short of 2 years with this new offence)?

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    • Anonymous says:

      “house arrest”……beats up a young woman in her public work place and is effectively grounded….how conflicted is this sentence.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Out of all things in the world, this is not the most important thing, but I just have to wonder.

    Why is it that MacKeeva where’s these non-traditional suits over the last couple of years? They look like an Asian suit or formal attire.

    Not that there is anything wrong with that dress-style preference, but I just cannot help but wonder.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Probably a gift from his Chinese friends , telling them not to put their CHEC books away just yet.

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    • Anonymous says:

      @8:46:
      Perhaps Mac wears that type of clothing for the same purposes that I enjoy wearing such outfits as formal attire: they are cooler and far more comfortable than suit and tie.
      (Or perhaps Mac wants to feel more like Chairman Mao.)
      Food for thought: Why does Wayne Panton dress just like Xí Jìnpíng?
      (Well, maybe not “just like” because Xí would not be caught dead wearing a pink tie.)

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  25. Concerned Citizen says:

    s part of the 21 Dec 2020 court ruling, https://cnslibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/William-McKeeva-Bush-Sentence-Ruling-21-Dec-2020.pdf

    – Para 9 – the defendants personal mitigation “The Defendant advises that he has ceased alcohol consumption”
    Note – this reduced his sentence, so should his sentence be re-visited?

    – para 24 – he was on a curfew – to be home by 6pm – did he break the court order?

    – para 24 – He is able to leave the house on curfew and not confined to house arrest as long as he does not have any “new offences”

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thanks for bringing this up.

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    • Anonymous says:

      In the real world, Bush would have been made to forfeit his passport while investigations were underway. There should be a warrant for his arrest (if for nothing else than parole violations) and arrested on landing in Cayman.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Regarding curfew in Paragraph 24: the text of the paragraph makes it clear that in this instance, Bush did not violate the terms of the curfew as he was not (as you erroneously assert) “on curfew” when this latest incident took place.

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  26. Anonymous says:

    Mac is a complete disaster and PACT is imploding – 4 Premiers! Wayne is on an island by himself unfortunately.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    MacKeeva Bush is part of the PACT caucus, where it relates to issues concerning his constituents, but not on other issues because the Speaker is to be independent and he is definitely not part of the Cabinet meetings.

    If, however, Panton appoints Heather Bodden (which has been rumored) to Speaker, he will then need to be careful with his relationship with her as his “yes woman”, just the same as Jay has been criticized with MacKeeva.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Speaker does not Caucus meetings or events.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The Speaker does not caucus with the Government nor with Cabinet.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Smarter to Nominate Barbara as Speaker.
      – She was a previous Deputy Speaker IIRC so no argument about her needing to learn the job.
      – Draws some attention to why we need a new speaker at this time.
      – No argument about favouritism since she is the other party.
      – Reduces the numbers on the other side in party line votes. Won’t matter to the outcome (so not a reason for her not to take the job) but vote numbers will look better, especially if some PACT choose to be absent for some votes in the future. (Not saying they will of course. But you can stay in the pact without really being for the pact.)

  28. James says:

    Panton: “It is clear that your conduct is inconsistent with the integrity and decorum required of the Speaker of the House of Parliament of the Cayman Islands.” why did you make him speaker 18 months ago then Wayne? You knew full well what he was like then. This behavior is nothing new.

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    • Anonymous says:

      @7:34pm James, You know the reason Wayne had to do this and it was simply because Alden and the PPM put him in that precarious position by not removing him but instead calling a snap election..

      It was very clear that Cayman did not want the PPM again and this was the only pathway for the PACT Government to be formed. Things may have been a little different if one more member of the PPM had crossed over but Alden held their “balls” in their hands and still do.

      McKeeva has done himself in now. Unlike Alden, Wayne had the balls to ask him to resign and for that I will continue to support the PACT government and this Premier. For once, we have a Premier that calls it as he sees it and not one that will do anything to hold on to power like Alden.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wrong. That’s on Kenny.

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        • Anonymous says:

          No. That was on Alden and the PPM. KB was the only Opposition MP at that time who did not vote in favour of what Ezzard and Arden were bringing forward. PPM did nothing, including Barbara, Juliana and Tara. Facts are facts. Roy and Joey did nothing either, neither did Jon Jon Seymour.

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      • James says:

        Wayne didn’t ‘have’ to do this. He chose to do this to get power at any cost. Removing him as speaker before the ection wouldn’t have changed the current situation.

        Every PPM member was re-elected. Clear to me the people spoke loud and clear.

        Bush back being a member of cabinet only gives him more influence to control the government. Exactly the position he wants to be in.

        Wayne is in over his head, it’s a sinking ship and only a matter of time. His reputation will be in tatters.

        8
        7
    • History Teacher says:

      PPM cannot be trusted again. They sold out our country and most Caymanians for wealthy developers and their friends that financed the party who they took their instructions from in return for financial support. Rich people got richer, developers got their returns thru concessions and secret deals. Average Caymanians suffered over the eight years PPM were in power. That is why they were replaced in 2021.

      PPM led by Alden McLaughlin formed the UNITY government with McKeeva Bush as a co-leader in 2017 and gave him the Speakers position which is the third most powerful position in the land. They knew what he was about then and all his vices.

      PPM decided not to remove McKeeva Bush after his drunken assault on the female bar manager that was captured on video.

      PPM did not condemn his actions and hoped it would go away. Not one of them called for his resignation or removal from the Speaker’s position or as a MP even after he was found guilty. Now you expect us to trust them?

      PPM will do whatever it takes to get back into power. The fake outrage now is pure a show and political posturing. If they need McKeeva Bush to make up the majority and form a government they will not hesitate to do so. History has taught us this.

      Never forget where we come from and what we have seen. Politicians will do anything for the power they are desperate to get it, to retain and potentially get rich from the opportunity.

      It is our recent history. Learn from it before we make the same mistakes and suffer worse consequences.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    The intelligent among us expected nothing less from a Marl Road government.

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  30. Anonymous says:

    Not enough …….lock him up

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  31. Anonymous says:

    I stopped applauding the Premier midst applaud when I read that he had appointed Mr Speaker to a position where ‘Bush has control over his own travel expenses within the budget for what is now an independent Parliament, which, according to one official, is left to his own discretion.’ The same guy that found it acceptable to use his Govt CCard for gambling Wayne, – what the 🤷🏻‍♀️🎲

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    • Anonymous says:

      That is the law Progressive passed.

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      • Anonymous says:

        A law designed for Progressives

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        • Anonymous says:

          It was not a law passed by the progressives it was a change to the constitution that was supported by Govt and opposition. I recall that Alva and Ezzard were part of the negotiations in London! But why is it that we cannot advance our constitution because of the potential behavior of one member ? If that’s the case that one member should be forced to resign his seat!

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          • Anonymous says:

            I think if we’re being real, the problem is with a lot more than just one member, it’s just that Bush has so blatantly got away with abusing his position and powers so long that he thinks he’s untouchable, and is by far the worst embarrassment historically.

            13
          • Anonymous says:

            Exactly! We should not be afraid of advancing our constitution because nefarious members of the legislature cannot act civilized. They need to not be elected and for those already elected they should be legally taken out.

    • Anonymous says:

      6:24 pm: I don’t think that it is to Panton’s credit or otherwise that Parliament is “independent”. Constitutionally, Parliament is one of the three independent branches of government, the other two being the judicial and the executive.

      36
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      • Junius says:

        MPs, who are elected to Parliament (the legislative arm of government), that form, ultimately amongst themselves (not elected by the People), the Cabinet (the executive branch of government) are, technically, not completely clear of conflicts-of-interest between the executive and legislative branches of government; and the executive branch of government is not elected by the people — that is, the troublesome issues with the Parliamentary Democracy (based on the Westminster-style).

        If, however, there were a Presidential Democracy, these issues would be sorted out, albeit with other areas that present other challenges. But, under this form of governance, the People elect members of Parliament (the executive arm of government) via a constituency vote and simultaneously also would be able to cast a national vote for the Premier (who can handpick the members of Cabinet, which must be approved by Parliament) — this way each the electorate cast three vote: first, a member of Parliament (constituency vote: i.e. “one-man-one vote”); second, the Premier (National vote); and third, the Speaker (National vote).

        If the Cayman Islands were to consider electing MPs (via a constituency vote) and simultaneously have a National vote for both the Premier and the Speaker, that would take most of the unproductive horse trading, of which the Cayman Islands has been feeling the negative affects, this might be the best form of participatory democracy for our electorate in the Cayman Islands. We need political stability!

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        • Anonymous says:

          And would you believe….. We need HONEST leaders!
          INTELLIGENCE would also be a great addition!
          And… They should NOT be associated with anything like a Masonic group!

          15
        • Anonymous says:

          @11:27:
          Under your model, the horse trading would simply be deferred to the time when the Premier’s handpicked candidates for Cabinet posts are under consideration for approval by Parliament. Reality: horse trading for power is an integral part of the representative democracy form of government.

          • Junius says:

            That’s correct. And that’s acknowledged where it is noted “albeit with other areas that present other challenges”.

            10
            • Anonymous says:

              @9:06:
              The point is that–in the proposed model–the horse trading regarding cabinet appointments is just moved to another point in the political process.

      • Anonymous says:

        An independent parliament is how it should be, and is in mostly all democratic countries, crown colonies, (whatever I will probably be reminded by “Cayman Correct Police” that auman is). anyway put that aside. Independent parliament just like One person one Vote is the way it should be. The problem with both on this Rock is not the system but the enept representatives that some of the electorate choose to represent them. Electing persons who are illiterate, possess no moral characteristics, no integrity, who are only expected to give “handouts” will only rise to that level. Don’t blame the system blame the electorates. OMOV, OPOV and an Independent Parliament will work when guided by honesty, discretion and integrity. Until then we will continue to hear such nonsense. We need to move along with the rest of democracy or we will always be playing catch up. Another reason why education should be a requisite for all politicians and aspiring politicians. We have passed the ” era of a place that time forgot” whether we act like it or not we are in the 21st century.

        23
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        • Anonymous says:

          OMOV is, has been and will continue to be (until expunged) an UNMITIGATED disaster for these islands.

          The West Minster, first past the post, winner take all system means that even with institutionalised parties, be they Conservative/Tory or Labour in Britain for example means that by winning ONLY 35% of the popular vote you get a landslide of 60% of the seats (or what ever is the most recent numbers…)- totally not proportionate and a very, very skewed form of democracy.

          In the Cayman Islands, its even worse as we do not have proper, developed, ideological based political parties, rather (at best) groups of personalities that find common cause for a time…before falling out with each other – “crabs in a bucket” syndrome.

          What we have here in the OMOV/Single Seat/West Minster/Winner Take All system is that small numbers of bought/easily swayed “woters” in hermetically sealed small constituencies, elect those you pander to them on micro local issues (i.e. “our kitchen needs a new fridge”, “our daughter needs a “government” grant for university”). It does not produce politicians of statute, none/few that can run an economy, have the knowledge, experience, intellect needed for government.

          Multi Seat Constituencies.
          Proportional Representation.
          Real Political Parties.

          Get rid of “cabal”/personality/and clepto-politics.

          Have accountability.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you 8:08 & 7:22, for the underlying info, what I was getting at is Mr Speaker was probably sweating like a fat man in cake shop pending the appointment and what could be argued as poor judgement of ‘discretion’ by Mr Panton against Mr Bush’s poor history of fiscal responsibility, but then, whatever it takes to get PACT moved in 🙄

      18
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    • Anonymous says:

      @6:24pm…Wrong Premier, blame Alden for that one..

      7
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  32. Anonymous says:

    Good start….does he still face charges? Can he still serve as MP? Can he still run next election?

    82
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    • Anonymous says:

      Good point.

      41
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    • The silent Majority. says:

      @6:16pm. Best for him to resign as MP now too. Call a byelection.
      If not Mac will go over to the north east corner and cause all sorts of troubles; including envigeling 3 other (now nameless MP’s)to join him and the Progressives. Ala another Kurt T Mac led coup.

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  33. Anonymous says:

    Perhaps the Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Employment might make some comment? At least we know the Minister responsible for Agriculture thinks it is OK to go on a boys trip with a criminal, at the public’s expense.

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  34. Anonymous says:

    While you found your cajones how about enforcing immigration rules for ALL sectors?

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  35. Anonymous says:

    Now will the Premier ask that uneducated MP from NS to vacate his seat in Cabinet? Who does Jay think he is putting out press release seemingly trying to convince the country that he asked McKeeva to step down. Shows just how incompetent his sorry self is.

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  36. Anonymous says:

    We hold elected officials to a lower standard.

    73
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    • Anonymous says:

      Make that a Tshirt!!!

      Civil Servants = No Standards.

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      • Anonymous says:

        6:18. Your t shirt should read. Help me!

        You don’t know the speaker is not a civil servant. Get help quick.

        14
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        • Anonymous says:

          Many of his enablers are. Those that booked his tickets, arranged his flights, booked his hotels, pay for his meals, drive him around, call him forever honorable, fail to investigate or cover for a long litany of apparent misdeeds. All civil servants. True or not? The T-Shirt should probably read: “Civil Servant. Facilitating the unconscionable since 1503.”

          11
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  37. JTB says:

    He needs to vacate his constituency too.

    This man has infested Cayman public life for far too long.

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  38. Anonymous says:

    Once again, I hope there is there CCTV of this to prove what a disaster this man is. I’m sure the Ritz has total coverage over it’s property

    90
    • Anonymous says:

      I guarantee Ritz has some of the footage. I spoke to someone that works there and is aware of it. It does exist, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

      88
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  39. Beaumont Zodecloun says:

    Well done, Mr. Premier. Truly. I know how you have have to wrangle this man in the past, and have had to induce him into your part for the purpose of forming a government. I truly feel your pain, as many of us do.

    I applaud you calling him on the carpet for his past and present misdeeds. Mr. Bush should be glad to not be forced to wear a prison suit. He should be glad to step down and let the country and Cabinet heal.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why no prison suit BZ? Has he not breached the terms of his suspended sentence?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Wayne is to blame. He let his ego convince him that he had to be Premier and could control Mackeeva contrary to much evidence to contrary. He should resign as Premier along with MacKeeva and call for a government of national unity. Then and only then will we get the Government that we voted for and anything approaching the Government that the Cayman islands need at this time.

      10
      5
    • Anonymous says:

      @5:52:
      Oh, my sweet holy Jeezus! You are making Panton out to be a victim in this. The real victims are the good upstanding people of the Cayman Islands. Panton in his lust for power, committed an act of utter disrespect for the people and imposed Mac upon us. WE are the true victims, not poor little Waynie. Panton is the predator in this case.

      9
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      • Anonymous says:

        Alden would have formed the Government with Mac for a second time time if he could. PPM is worse than PACT.

        12
        6
        • Anonymous says:

          @9:14:
          PACT and PPM: Two horse pulling the same plow, in the same field, tilling the same row, and behind them the same seeds are planted: yet the silly farmers expect a different crop.
          Perhaps it is time for the farmers to make better choices?

          3
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  40. Anonymous says:

    I’ll believe it when I see it but I REALLY hope this is true and he will step down. I’d rather see him in jail but him no longer in office is a start.

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  41. Anonymous says:

    Vacating the chair achieves what?

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    • Anonymous says:

      If he isnt Speaker he will have less freedom and no budget to spend.

      56
      • Anonymous says:

        Disagree 6.13…He will indeed have lost access to a bottomless budget, but as an MP
        he will have the ability to speak , shout, disrupt , interfere and plot as he has always done as a man without conscience.
        There will not be a good ending to this , and Cayman will be the loser.

        21
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    • Anonymous says:

      Less stupid activity?

  42. Anonymous says:

    Mac shouldn’t have mess with a Bracker. He finish now.

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  43. Anonymous says:

    Jay, Saunders, Kenneth, And Mac planning a coup.
    Mac resigns as speaker, but stays as MP where he can shout and bully his way back into power, pushing Panton aside.
    Panton should take Heather, Andre, Cathy and make a coalition with Roy and his team.
    We would have a Mac, Kenneth Saunders, Seymour and Jay free government ..Hallelujah.

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  44. Elvis says:

    At last someone has the B alls to address his disgusting behaviors, embarrassment to cayman like it or not.

    78
    • Anonymous says:

      That would be the people who didn’t vote for this government. It certainly isn’t spineless wayne that allowed this in the first place.

      30
      7
      • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

        None of us vote for our governments; we elect MPs based upon their platform and then they recombine to form governments in ways that are contrary to the ideals they were elected upon.

        I don’t know what to call it, but it isn’t representation.

        20
    • Anonymous says:

      Police parole/CBC/Worc should have held his passport and suspended his travel privileges pending outcome of serious parole breach and fresh charge investigations. At least 3 yrs in Northward is on the line. He would (finally) be out of politics, and forfeit a lifetime of honours he never deserved or earned. Maybe then, others would finally come forward.

      19
  45. Anonymous says:

    The fact that Jay chose to be big man and make Mac’s resignation announcement, screams volumes on this government as a fractured entity.
    Lack of respect for the Premier , who clearly should have made the announcement, forewarns of a power struggle now in the open.
    Using a nobody like Alric as an information conduit for major announcement of Government business, speaks clearly to underhand dealings.
    Mac using our money to unashamedly go on a joy ride of no benefit to Cayman, confirms all we need to say as to the man’s character.

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  46. Anonymous says:

    Bush needs to resign since he wasn’t fired. Jay needs to learn his place….big ego and loose lips.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Bush needs to be in prison, since he is a criminal. Jay needs to resign since he plainly lacks the capacity to even understand the error of his ways. Saunders needs to declare the direction his own moral compass points him in. Then the public will be able to see the right way forward.

      29
  47. Anonymous says:

    Good on Panton. Now, let’s watch and see if the morally lost can make the right decision or if we have to kick the stupid idiot out.

    60
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  48. Anonymous says:

    About time Wayne finally showed some balls as Premier.

    Will his PACT colleagues support this decisive act of leadership?

    74
  49. WBW voter says:

    Crediting the Agriculture minister with persuading the Speaker to step down – it is partly through him why he became Speaker – as Jay brought him to the table and would only join Pact if they accepted Mac. So no praises needed for Jay to be honest.

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  50. Anonymous says:

    Bush is a criminal. Any law that requires him to be treated with high respect, let alone be called Honorable, is a disgusting affront to the principles of democracy. That he appears to have committed the latest offense in a building where he previously owned condominiums, itself an edifice to his largesse, is ironic in the extreme. Perhaps the Attorney General can overlook his own cabinet status grant and offer some explanation of the circumstances that meets with highest principles of good governance and the rule of law? It doesn’t look (or smell) good, does it Governor, Commissioner, ACC, ….?

    #Leggewasright

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    • KWilliams says:

      Bush also had an over-riding commission of one or two per cent on all condo sales. That stacks up.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Why? Was he the best and most experienced real estate agent in the Cayman Islands? Do you really think that “stacks up?” No wonder we are on blacklists. We do not stand a chance if we do not see any serious problem with that rationale.

        52
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        • Anonymous says:

          Elected officials can only become corrupt is private individuals or entities pay. Takes two.

          40
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          • Anonymous says:

            …and can only stay corrupt, or elected, if highly paid and resourced law enforcers see nothing.

            35
          • Anonymous says:

            Jamaican politics operates by attaching yourself to a politician who can “look after you” , in return for favors extended to them.
            This disease has infected Cayman.
            Thanks Mac.

            13
        • KWilliams says:

          It stacks up because of his relationship with the developer. Do not forget the developer went bust owing money to CIG who stupidly gave him concessions with no recourse if the project went bust. There were more red flags on the development than at the annual meeting of Matadors in Madrid.

          This was a great precedent followed by the millions lost by CIG and local creditors on the Margarittaville Hotel.

          Where is the next one I wonder.

          Will the CIG stop wasting tax payers money.

          I do hope the Auditor General is reading this.

          54
          • Anonymous says:

            What about the other AG? Or the Commissioner, Governor, ACC…. How long is this big stinking pile going to sit under the rug?

            19
          • Anonymous says:

            CIG didn’t stupidly give concessions…….people were paid for those.

            18
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    • Anonymous says:

      “…latest offense in a building where he previously owned condominiums”

      Wow!😳

      Really? Interested to know more details.

      44
      • Anonymous says:

        It appears he may have got two, as payment of real estate “commission”.
        Nothing whatsoever to do with him changing laws to facilitate the development, smoothing over the forced unemployment of over 100 Caymanians at the old Holiday Inn, the disappearance of a large quantity of marl, or granting status to numerous connected persons.
        If such things in fact happened, it is all pure coincidence. Any suggestion otherwise is pure bureaucratic harassment. He was a leading realtor, and the obvious agent for an exclusive deal. In fact, Hyatt/Britannia also seems to have used his exclusive services in its development. Our robust, independent, and impartial law enforcers would have acted immediately were anything amiss. His hands are clean and his heart is pure.

        65
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        • N says:

          Surely love the sarcasm here. So many very highly paid persons in CIG and elsewhere here and yet none can touch the Mac!? The few that have stood up (a couple Auditor Generals come to mind) suddenly couldn’t get their contracts renewed!? Why? Because Legge was right!

          21
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        • Anonymous says:

          My understanding of the “deal” was that he was assured by Ryan than the condo was available for his use anytime he wanted, and I believe he did take advantage of that and stayed there as if he owned it. Some might say that it was a personal favour in acknowledgement of the more than generous duty waivers received by the developer from government.
          When Ryan lost control of the Ritz project, and Big Mac lost control of the government, all those benefits fell away.

          8
          1
      • Anonymous says:

        Gifts that kept on giving thanks to Papa Dart… At least one was bought from Mac by the big man…

        34
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    • Anonymous says:

      4.24 Legge was right, right to leave.

      38
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      • Anonymous says:

        Legge had the balls to call us out on our bullshit. He saw through us. He told the truth. Our response to having the mirror held up is almost as disgusting as the image in it. You are an apologist for the corrupt and criminally inept, and are directly contributing to the destruction of our country.

        58
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        • Anonymous says:

          Who cares about Legge anymore?
          Unless you’re Legge and trying to stay relevant.

          13
          11
          • Anonymous says:

            As long as we remain unable to govern ourselves without astounding levels of corruption and mismanagement, Legge remains entirely relevant.

            10
            2
          • Anonymous says:

            I have to agree. I’m sick I hearing Legge was right. So what? Learn to speak for yourself and stop talking about Legge, who was a legend in his own mind, just like MacKeeva. And, on this point, I am right.

            6
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