Speaker accused of sexual harassment at CTO bash

| 14/09/2022 | 465 Comments
Cayman News Service
Speaker McKeeva Bush

(CNS): Speaker McKeeva Bush was reportedly escorted off the premises of the Ritz-Carlton hotel on Tuesday evening, by a colleague, after he was accused of sexually harassing two female government employees at a cocktail party hosted by the tourism ministry for the Caribbean Tourism Organization event. While there has been no confirmation from officials that Bush was the culprit, both the police and the premier’s office said they were aware of the allegations about the behaviour of a senior member of Parliament towards women present at the event.

CNS learned early this morning that it was the speaker and member for West Bay West who allegedly behaved inappropriately towards two women employed by different government departments during the course of the evening and had reportedly been asked to leave as a result.

Police have confirmed that they were aware of the accusations. “No formal complaint has yet been made to the RCIPS by either of the women concerned,” the police stated. “The RCIPS has commenced an investigation and will interview both women to ascertain whether a complaint/complaints are to be made.”

CNS reached out to Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan and Premier Wayne Panton for comment. Bryan, who is hosting the CTO event, has not yet responded but the premier has acknowledged the allegations.

“Although I was not in attendance at the tourism event on Tuesday evening, I have received reports through social media and otherwise alleging an incident with a Member of Parliament,” Panton stated in an emailed message. “I have been informed that the RCIPS commenced an investigation on the matter and have issued a statement. In the current circumstances it is not prudent for me to make further comment at this time.”

When Panton formed the government with Bush in April 2021, he had agreed to a number of conditions, including the immediate implementation of a Code of Conduct for all Parliamentarians, where any infractions would lead to immediate dismissal from their position. Bush also agreed to donate 10% of his monthly salary to the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre and to continue supporting women’s issues.

The conditions were set because of Bush’s conviction for assault in December 2020 in relation to a well-documented incident at a bar in Seven Mile Beach earlier that year. Bush, who was intoxicated at the time and had passed out on the premises., assaulted the female manager when she tried to assist him.

However, there is no indication that Bush has met any of the conditions. There is no evidence that he made any donations to the Crisis Centre or any other relevant charity. And almost 18 months after the election, there is not sign that the code of conduct for MPs will be on the statute books anytime soon. While the premier steered through the first-ever Ministerial Code of Conduct for Cabinet members in July last year, Bush is not a member of Cabinet.


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Category: Crime, Police

Comments (465)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    so sick of the daily incompetence and failure of cig…..
    can we get direct rule please for 2 years?

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  2. Anonymous says:

    don’t blame mac…blame the spineless fool who put a convicted woman beater as speaker of the house.
    time to go wayne and pact.
    your failure as leader and government are now complete.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t blame Mac? That pathetic excuse for a human has to take responsibility for his own self

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Was the accused drunk?

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  4. Anonymous says:

    cig and civil service cannot go 5 mins without making themselves look like world-class clowns.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    We are the midst of National Mourning, why was this event even being held? And why were any of our MPs attending?
    Shameful yet again by Bush, beyond the pale. The Premier, Parliament and the Governor need to act and have him removed from office.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    This is embarrassing. History may be repeating itself. Worst timing for this. International embarrassment is damaging to Cayman’s reputation.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No class bunch of losers! A Caribbean Tourism Conference and this is where this man choose to show his true colors. Just imagine their snickering and ” can’t believe this crap” look on their faces.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Lowlife

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Would this break the terms of his suspended sentence?

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  9. Anonymous says:

    The judge who gave him a suspended sentence when he assaulted the waitress must be really proud of themselves.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    What abunch of honourabe Politicans we got in Parliament. Caymanians should be a shamed that they voted such as them in.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    I will continue to pray for Mr. Bush. He needs to go to counselling for his addictions.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Clean of hands and pure of heart. 😁

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  13. Anonymous says:

    No more chances. Wayne step up and get rid of Mac once and for all. What an embarrassment.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    And nothing will happen because Wayne needs him. I used to think Wayne had potential. I now realize he is power hungry and unethical like all of the other politicians.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Love the silence 😂.. AGAIN ! From his pastors / churches .

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    • Anonymous says:

      But if it was about a gay matter….protests and placards outside the Parliament with pastors’ hands held up to Heaven. Sickening.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Grow a pair of ….s Wayne!!

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  17. Anonymous says:

    John John will have already reminded them that they not see nuttin.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    “Bryan, who is hosting the CTO event, has not yet responded” – no surprise, he waiting for instructions from Mac.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    “immediate implementation of a Code of Conduct for all Parliamentarians” …. soon come … just waiting for the pigs to fly…

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  20. Anonymous says:

    I sorry that women have to suffer because nobody will stop certain individuals who repeated engage in this type of conduct.

    I hope that the women involved in these alleged incidents will step forward and give evidence and that justice will prevail. However I understand that the lack of support for women that exists in this government makes that less likely.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Leopard……. Spots….

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  22. Anonymous says:

    This is why there will never be any meaningful Parliamentary Code of Conduct. Turkeys don’t vote for Thanksgiving.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    The most likely outcome of this is that Mac will be proclaimed our next National Hero. Anybody expecting him to face any negative political consequence for any behaviour, past or present, is dreaming.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    The Crisis Centre had the guts and integrity to tell Mac to bolt. Let’s see if the Premier has the same level of guts and integrity. I won’t be holding my breath. We are truly a laughable little pebble.

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    • Anonymous says:

      All while having Wayne’s favorite gossip blogger Sandra Hill berate them for not accepting and receiving so much hate from her inept followers all to form the most disgusting government ever known to Cayman. He left the PPM about Macbeaters behaviour but felt compelled to form a government with him for power and now won’t speak out against it. Will he step down from his position in protest like he did when he pretended before or does he now feel comfortable in the company of convicts…

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  25. Anonymous says:

    #HeIsSupported

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  26. Anonymous says:

    A Cayman Sh.t show. Nothing surprising except the acceptance for the continual presence of the MacBeater. Anywhere else in the developed world this scum would have been tossed into the garbage… but in Cayman he gets re-elected!!!!!!!! How sad for the uneducated, uninformed, unsophisticated Cayman Electorate. It is a poor stain on the history for the Cayman Islands to tolerate this piece of trash when they could have easily voted it out many times (corruption reigns here), and the ruling party to include ‘it’ into their sphere as speaker. Don’t like my comments? – Prove me wrong!

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    • Anonymous says:

      The uneducated, uninformed,( I will leave out the unsophisticated) unintelligent Cayman electorate does not appreciate educated, informed,intelligent, honest representation, they just want someone who can pay to have their roofs repaired,their yards covered with new fill and gravel, a new fridge, stove, car, truck, airline tickets and anything else that their feeble minds can conjure up. I had a conversation with someone from his neck of the woods just after his last attack about his actions and she said. ” we have to learn to forgive and forget and he not all bad, he looks after us good” need I say more?

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Bernie, you paying attention?

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Mac’s a big boy, he knows when to self assess & self discipline, time to take another leave of absence.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    Impossible, there’s a Code of Conduct they adhere to. Wayne/Pact = underlying effing disaster

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  30. Anonymous says:

    Mac goes or Wayne goes. Your move Wayne-O

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    • Anonymous says:

      If Wayne goes Chris or Kenny becomes Premier and PACT stumbles on as it has up to now. If Mac goes his disciples will revolt and the government will fall. Just saying that is the way politics is….

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      • Anonymous says:

        What’s wrong with Chris being named Premier and Kenny Deputy Premier? They are already performing those roles, and have been for some time, so legally appoint them to the posts and remove the scales of doubt from even the dumbest who still think (or at least continue to pretend) that Wayne is Premier.

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        • Anonymous says:

          If Chris becomes Premier within 6 months he will make us a dependence of Jamaica Town? Dr. Roy will turn over in his grave. I guess most of you have forgotten how close we came to that in the past?

    • Anonymous says:

      Says who? Sir Alden? Joe public?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Or both is better, as it can’t get any worse. Or can it?

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  31. Anonymous says:

    time to PACT it in. Shame on you Wayne for ever hitching your wagon to this disgrace.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The biggest shame is all of those nimbies who hooked their wagon to Wayne and the Pack of Wolves in sheep’s clothing!

  32. Junius says:

    If this turns out to be correct, Alric Lindsay, who the PACT previously suggested was going to be called on to be Speaker, would be the obvious choice from outside of Parliament MPs to be the new Speaker.

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    • Anonymous says:

      He is already on 25+ boards with cumulative compensation that exceeds the Speaker’s salary. Wait, he says he can fit it in.

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      • Anonymous says:

        No problemo. It’s only a couple of days a year.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You really have it out for Alric, don’t you? this entire rock is made of random middle aged nobodies being directors and board members. That’s the apparent professional skill here. A load of haggered old men, on loads of boards, pretending they know something, delivering nothing, whilst telling everybody and their dog that they are “board members”.

        Clown show.

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    • Silent majority! says:

      @7:13pm. God forbid! Stop buttering him up! Enough.

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    • Anonymous says:

      and give up all his unsupervised Loop writing?

      Pushing his and Saunders agenda on Loop every week.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Or other past Speakers or even other past knowledgeable educated persons who knows all the issues about running the Legislature etc…time to change our persona in the public and the world; about how Women are treated and respected in the CI; as there are many good and respectable men that respect women….

    • Anonymous says:

      No-one born of non-Caymanian Parents and Grandparents should be appointed Speaker. Jamaicans have far too much power already.

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  33. James says:

    We are used to this allegedly happening on a normal day but this now allegedly happens while we are hosting a caribbean event during a period of national mourning. So much for the muted social engagement in respect for the Queen. what an embarrassment to the country.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes so true; as ALLwomen around the world has had the greatest teacher and example of how to be a GREAT GRACIOUS WOMAN; the late HRH The Queen; and so that was also disrespect in our tine of mourning BUT also to do it in front of all the other Caribbean Leader, that also showed DISRESPECT for ALL of Caymanian Women too..

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    • Anonymous says:

      Honorable speaker is in mourning and this is how he expresses his feelings.

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  34. Anonymous says:

    Shock horror! When the story broke he was the last person we thought would have been involved! Hope he was wearing his mask! 🤡

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  35. Anonymous says:

    It is not relevant whether the women wish to pursue complaints. What is relevant is the question (long answered) of whether the speaker is fit for office. Any office. Perhaps the police can address that fundamental issue?

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    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      Thank you. Why, oh why, do we, tolerate the presence of this disgraceful shell of a man? How many more of these kind of events will it take to remove him from office? 3? 4? More?

      Mr. Bush is the poster child for term limits.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What’s also relevant, is if the Police have the guts to prosecute and put the suspended sentence in motion.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, being government employees no doubt there will be the usual immense pressure by Big Mac to not speak the truth. This man needs to go, he is a shame and a disgrace on our country.

      It was only a matter of time before he did something like this and the Parliamentatian code of conduct should have been in place before this happened. What the f*** is going on?

      Take him out as speaker immediately! Time to show (with apologies to the ladies) that this government has some balls!

      Especially you Kenny, you should be ashamed of yourself but I think you have no shame.

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    • Anon says:

      he’s not fit to shovel s##t.
      prove me wrong.

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  36. Anonymous says:

    who could have expected this?

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  37. Elvis says:

    Here we go again😂😂😂😂😂

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  38. Anonymous says:

    Civil Servants. They’ll keep quiet.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Civil servants especially have a duty to speak out for the sake of their female colleagues, if for no other reason.

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  39. Anonymous says:

    If a member of the public, working in the private sector had this man’s record, they would have been fired and locked up years ago. The entitlement and protection of Caymans government officials is beyond embarrassing and disgusting. Let see if they have the balls to do anything this time. Very doubtful.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Facilitated by a civil service that has lost all connection with its role and responsibility.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Bollocks. You’ve confused the “private sector” with the “private sector in the real world”.

      This entire Island is bent as a 9-bob note. Don’t pretend the private sector is any better. I can’t name a single company handbook that includes the word “rape” in my entire career.

      First company in the Cayman Islands though had to specifically tell its employees in the handbook alongside what not to wear to work etc, that “rape” was not allowed… no shit.

      What does that tell you? This entire island is a predatory, scratch each other’s back, fuck everybody but our master of the universe selves.

      Keewa is the most genuine guy on the bloody rock, at least he isn’t pretending. He epitomises what this Island is. He just doesn’t hide it so well.

      John john chasing his ex-girlfriend to a hotel on SMB because he thought she was up to no good. Kenny B being convicted of drug dealing as a Youngeun, Keewa and his nonsense.

      These wannabe masters of the universe can hide from their sins because Caymanians do not air their dirty laundry. We all know it, but Caymanians won’t shame them. That will never change.

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  40. Nobody says:

    Too funny! Honorable by law and a leader for life. His minions must be so proud.

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  41. Anonymous says:

    Leave him alone, he’s clearly grieving the loss of his queen. Everyone grieves know their own way.

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  42. Anonymous says:

    Oh wow never thought it would have been him!!

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  43. Anonymous says:

    regardless of the opinions of the general population, a sense of intense national embarrassment, pretending to be honourable representative of the will of people, we must realise that lodge trumps everything. many of our elected officials will meet in private and laugh at us, the people. we only count at voting time and this is so they can continue to feast at the trough. it will be a huge surprise if anything meaningful is done about this alleged incident. it is sad and disgraceful, and as an older resident I can only imagine what young, educated, caymanian females make of this situation.

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  44. Anonymous says:

    Ok Big Mac. Be “On Wobble” this Time and step down. You have embarrassed the Cayman Islands enough with your drunken,uncouth behaviour. Do better!

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  45. Anonymous says:

    MAC has to GO
    MAC has to GO
    MAC has to GO

    Come on PACT
    Come on PPM

    DO THE RIGHT THING

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  46. Anonymous says:

    Well Wayne… the time has come to show if you are serious or all talk !!

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  47. Anonymous says:

    if I recall, there were conditions attached to his release on a suspended sentence. it would appear there is a possibility, if these allegations are proved, that the speaker is at high risk of, and indeed should be, imprisoned for a period of two years based solely on the sentencing from the coral beach / kwong incident. whatever punishment which may be reached as a result of the current allegations is a separate consideration and likely will be added to his existing sentence. also, the police can save the lip service about whether or not a complaint is made as it is within their power to bring charges in the absence of such a complaint. I am pretty sure the Ritz has a few cameras and that there were a few witnesses.

    spotlight is shining bright – let us all watch justice be done or otherwise.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Before we confuse the police with this recent issue, can we ask them to investigate allegations of corruption in relation to certain status grants?

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      • Anonymous says:

        And investigate the incident at the GT Cigar bar which occured after the Coral Beach one and before the Ritz one.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Or the “slush fund” nation building money given to supporters.

        Or the Hyatt real estate deal involving his “wife’s” company.

        Or the Stan Thomas Affair?

        Or the gambling with the government credit card?

        Or Macs real estate company originally getting the exclusive right to sell the new Ritz condos?

        Or Michael Ryan stopping paying the Ritz duty defferal when Macs UDP government was in place costing the country millions? The PPM had him paying it again when they were in power.

        How about the massive amount of irrevocable status grants to thousands who were not eligible, muddying the waters with those who should have received status a long time before? He gave away our birthright!!!

        I could go on but then this post might last for a few days.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We don’t do enforcement. He’ll be fine.

      #Leggewasright.

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    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      CIG thinks these events are an embarrassment, so they tend toward covering up. You know…… stay the course. Nudge nudge wink wink. Life goes on.

      Truth is, tolerating this kind of behaviour is a much greater embarrassment, and an huge affront to the integrity of the Cayman Islands, Parliament and the people.

      We shouldn’t ask for better. We should demand it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      it was a 60 day sentence suspended for 2 years. not a 2-year sentence.

  48. Anonymous says:

    Wow like we didn’t see that one coming.

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  49. Anonymous says:

    #theyaresupported

    Or are they Wayne?

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