Bush claims harassment allegations are false
(CNS): Posting on a social media forum Thursday morning, Speaker McKeeva Bush said the sexual harassment allegations against him are false and made comments likely to stir up further uncertainty over the future of the PACT Government. The West Bay veteran MP still hadn’t officially resigned from his post at the time, and despite reportedly telling Premier Wayne Panton that he would step aside in messages over the weekend, as of noon today he remained firmly in the speaker’s chair.
Commenting on the Facebook group Elections & Legislation Watch – Cayman Islands, where the administrator called for a snap election, Bush said that would “hurt the country”, but that he would allow a no-confidence motion filed by the opposition yesterday to be heard and. “What members choose to do to defend themselves will be left to be seen,” he stated in the social media post.
In his comment responding to the social media political commentary about the current situation, which speculated that the PPM opposition has the votes to win their no-confidence motion, Bush stated that the PPM’s motion had “nothing to do with the false allegations against the speaker”. He also said the author’s post was “full of misconceptions”, adding “a snap election is not called for” as it would “hurt the country”.
Bush’s situation and that of the government remained uncertain Thursday, even though it would require a significant implosion of the PACT alliance for the opposition motion to succeed. But the speaker also remained at the heart of the instability.
According to the letter Panton sent to Bush following the allegations that Bush had sexually harassed two female civil servants while intoxicated at an official cocktail party last week, he had until 5pm tomorrow (Friday 23 September) to submit his resignation. However, there is no indication as to what Panton plans to do if Bush chooses to remain in office.
Unless the speaker goes voluntarily, the only way he can be removed is through a vote of no-confidence in his tenure by the whole parliament, requiring at least 13 votes against him or the collapse of the government.
The opposition’s no-confidence motion, which Bush has said will go on the business paper, will take precedent over any potential no-confidence vote in the speaker, creating further uncertainty surrounding the future of this government. To succeed, the no-confidence vote in PACT requires a two-thirds majority, or thirteen members, to support it. And unless he does resign, Bush will not be able to debate or vote on that motion.
While the premier, the governor and the opposition leader have all agreed Bush should vacate the speaker’s chair as a result of his inappropriate behaviour last week, despite a police inquiry no official reports have been made by any of the women allegedly subjected to his drunken advances. And without any video evidence, Bush is claiming his innocence and apparently reconsidering his decision to step down.
CNS NOTE: Since this article was posted the original political commentary and the speaker’s response has been removed please see Bush’s original post below:
Category: Local News, Politics
So what happened to Teflon Mac – CNS: can we have a follow up story please
CNS Note: Soon come….
Hey MacKeeva and Alden,
Please read the definition of a Narcissist below..
A disorder in which a person has an inflated sense of self-importance.
Narcissistic personality disorder is found more commonly in men. The cause is unknown but likely involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Symptoms include an excessive need for admiration, disregard for others’ feelings, an inability to handle any criticism, and a sense of entitlement.
The disorder needs to be diagnosed by a professional. Treatment involves talk therapy.
So, on October 5th the Parliament will convene to hear the motion of no Confidence in the PACT Government.
Using Robert’s Rules of Order (and Erskin May), once the motion of no Confidence is moved and seconded, I would encourage the Premier to stand on a point of order and offer an amendment to the motion. Offer and amendment that alters the motion from a motion of no Confidence in the PACT Government, to essentially a motion of no Confidence in the Speaker of Parliament!
Have a debate on the amendmended motion vs. the substantive motion.
Let’s hope and pray (and it can if PACT’s Premier knows what he’s doing and did some groundwork prior with the PPM’ers) that the AMENDED MOTION prevails.
The ONLY motion then on the floor of Parliament would be the Motion of No Confidence in the Speaker (I.e. Bush!).
Certainly that would give McKeever a surprise (and a heart pounding shock!)to see “the tables turned on him”.
The 19 MP’s vote unanimously to REMOVE McKeeva Bush as Speaker and life goes on with PACT still the Government,PPM having discharged their good governance civic duty, and old McKeeva relegated to sit as a LONELY MP on the South East corner of Parliament getting crumbs for his WBW constituency.
Serves them right!
Serves McKeeva Bush right!
And the country moves on.
While Silent Majority’s approach might work, seems most legislative bodies don’t follow Roberts Rules.
CI Parliament should follow Parliament’s Standing Orders (http://gazettes.gov.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/13140689.PDF) under which its meetings are controlled by the Presiding Officer, currently MP Bush. How might Parliament escape this “Catch 22”?
Because advance notice isn’t needed, a motion for suspension of a MP might work under Standing Order 24(9)(f). Then per Standing Order 4(1)(b) or (c) the Deputy Speaker or another non-minister MP could become Presiding Officer.
The removal of MP Bush from being the Speaker might then proceed in an orderly manner, including suggested amendment of a no-confidence motion or other procedure. If MP Bush resists, Standing Orders 41(1) through (14) and 7(11)(b) & (c) are available.
That would change the substance of the motion i.e. create a brand new motion, they cannot do that, a new motion would have to be filed with notice. Amendments cannot change the underlying substance of the main motion, its not allowed.
That would be like bringing a bill to make fishing illegal and amending it to make jogging illegal, cannot be done without notice, consultation period, etc. there are rules and such to follow.
However the Premier with his governments support can bring a motion with the notice period suspended (immediately), you should be asking why he has not already done this, considering that Mac didn’t resign before the imposed deadline of Friday midnight.
Say what you will about PPM – but they did have the sense to not form a government with Mac. Power and greed made Wayne do it.
Dat wa ya get! Marl Road Government – without her they would be sunk my good people. Listen for it…..
@6:17am ..boy your memory is short..How was the unity government of the PPM/UDP formed? Alden could not have pulled that one off without McKeeva..He was given the speaker position then same as the PACT did this time around..Stop making PPM seem like a rose, they are nothing but thorns and a bunch of sore losers and power hungry politicians.
No more PPM and no more UDP or should I say MacKeeva as he seems to be the only one left.,
It’s never his fault, just like Mr Orange Cheeto Head in the US
He posted that at 10 in the morning? I know Mac lacks a complete education, but that incoherent ramble looks like something written by someone off his face at 3 am.
The Ritz has wall to wall CCTTV footage of public areas. Release the video – should resolve the debate. Except of course the Ritz is owned by Dart, and Dart has no interest in MacKeeva being out or for that matter reinforcing Wayne “Environment” Panton.
Dart n McKeeva are hand in glove all the way back. They know eachothers secrets. Its a zero sum game for either to attack the other.
Yeah, they are two of a kind. They both know how to evade telling the truth.
You mean they are both crooks?
I think Bush was in Honduras getting tips from the former First Lady of Honduras who was just convicted and sentenced to 14 years.
14 years? What did she do wrong?
Marriage of Convenience in West Bay
Sounds similar to when he was saved by the camera angles at casino in Florida. If it’s his word against the word s of one ore two individuals isn’t a judge going to look at his past behavior.
Criminal standard is beyond a reasonable doubt. But for it to even be a matter for a judge 1) the CCTV footage must be available 2) the RCIPS and DPP have to decide to prosecute, especially in the absence of a complaint from the victims. Have my doubts on both.
PS You sure about it being the camera angles in Florida – thought the waitress withdrew her complaint? Don’t remember it ever going before a judge.
Honorable Bush, shut down all these haters and the fake new! We love you always my brethren
Spotted the grifter!
this comment was brought to you by new free dishwasher gang
I don’t. I don’t like liars or thieves.
Man, you got a lot to dislike about Bush and Dart!
I know a dog that is more honorable than Bush.
@8:38am..You clearly have drunk the the Kool Aid or whatever it was Mackeeva was drinking at the RITZ. Mckeeva is Like Alden and the PPM and to a greater degree Donald Trump..bunch of narcissistic, power hungry and useless politicians.
CNS, why don’t you use his mug shot instead of parliament pictures? You can very easily pull the Florida mug shot off the internet. Please stop using the parliament photos, he is not a decent law abiding individual.
Capital idea!
Trump before Trump was Trump!!
WTF DOES TRUMP HAVE TO DO WITH THIS? You should stop smoking that shidt.
he’s going to take advantage of this hurricane that’s hitting us on Monday
This is sooo…weird. Detached from reality.
Get rid of the PACT. They mean us no good!
And replace them with the greedy and dishonest PPM..…..nah we’ll stay with Dr Dolittle
or call a snap election since nobody seems to want a PACT or PPM govt! betcha you see sh£t get done then!
Mac is not a Narcissist he has actually narrowly avoided Sainthood! Unnah leave Boss Hogg alone nah ! His Santaria priestess / chauffeur is going get unaaah you know !
Or his right hand fixer man going to lick you with his Fax machine.
Bush is a disgrace to the human race. There is nothing good about him.
The people who lick his boots, always there to drive him home, get him out of mess, generally do butler services for him, are as low as he is.
Not fair. He gave senior law enforcement officials status. Most generous methinks!
When is this stupid man going away?!? I am so tired of hearing anything from him! He should do us all a favour and disappear for good!
I think it is up to the PPM to take control of this mess and take him out of the Speaker’s Chair. I do not think that Wayne is working on doing so if his mealy mouth statement is any indication. Imagine he suggested him to vacate. As power hungry as he is there is no way he will silently go. If the PPM has the proof and the numbers then it is a piece of cake! This is how it works, the Opposition is actually the “government in waiting, if they don’t do it then who will? Also the PACT government has been one hot mess from even before they were officially the PACK. It has been more than a year and we still cannot list one single accomplishment. Time to take out The Speaker and the PACK in one fell swoop!We have all posted our comments of rage and disgust but that won’t cut it. If the PPM did their homework they can and I believe they will. I realise not everyone will agree with me and that is ok, I have had my issue with them as well but I believe It is either we support the PPM or we keep the Big Mac and the PACK, embrace their failures and shut. Cayman will be unrecognizable and stagnant for the rest of the term.
Franz. Missing in action.
Governor Roper. Missing in action. Commissioner. Missing in action. The last 2 are out of here soon so don’t give a monkeys anyway. Franz will do whatever he’s told to keep the DG job. Cayman is sliding down the cludgie and there’s no way back.
Separation of powers folks the administration cannot interfere with the parliament, this falls squarely in Wayne’s lap!
Not criminal matters and judicial conditions.
No. It is actually on the Commissioner’s lap (where it has been for 25 years). The lack of action on several fronts is astounding.
The police have charged him many times!
Anybody seen or heard from the Female MPS or they hiding under a rock till this blows over. Come on Gaia out on ya big drawers and let’s hear ya on this mcbush debacle and harm and threats to to your female constituents. Ona shameful bad
Governor is the FCOs creature. Provided Cayman doesn’t do anything internationally embarrassing, violate any treaties the Uk is party to, expose them to any obligation to pay money or do something that would undermine security like give the Chinese a foothold, they don’t give a monkeys. Probably find it all amusing, like watching the chimps at the zoo fighting over the bananas.
The big surprise is that for many it’s still a big surprise. That’s why he is still King.