PACT MPs accept Bush’s resignation on his terms
(CNS): With the entire opposition boycotting the current session of parliament, the PACT Government voted to accept the resignation of Speaker McKeeva Bush on Friday without any debate or discussion. The resolution confirms the government’s support for the terms Bush set out in his resignation letter, paving the way for him to remain in the chair for more than seven weeks and preside over parliament and the management of the House, despite the cloud of scandal surrounding him.
The West Bay veteran MP remains the subject of a police investigation as a result of allegations of sexual harassment at a cocktail event last month at the Ritz-Carlton during the Caribbean Tourism Organization conference. Even if Bush did not commit an offence, there is little dispute that he was intoxicated and behaved inappropriately with, CNS now understands, at least four women, three of whom were public officials.
However, during the parliamentary meeting, no government member made any reference to Bush’s behaviour or the reason why the government is willing to accept his extended stay, even though Deputy Speaker Kathy Ebanks-Wilks could temporarily take the chair until a new speaker is elected by the parliament.
The opposition members boycotted the meeting precisely for this reason. But their absence meant there was no one in the chamber to challenge the resolution and force the government to explain its decision to accept Bush’s prolonged notice period.
Speaking at the press briefing at the PPM HQ shortly after Premier Wayne Panton moved the resolution and all 13 PACT members voted in favour of accepting Bush’s resignation, Barbara Conolly said that, as a woman, she would have felt very uncomfortable sitting in the House on Friday with Bush in the chair.
“I would like to challenge those three women parliamentarians that are in government to let this country know how they are going to sit there… based on the disrespect Mr Bush has for the women of this country,” she added.
But they did sit, and Deputy Premier Chris Saunders said he had a fundamental problem accepting the absence of the opposition, noting that every day people get up and go to work in conditions that are far from ideal.
“There are times when you have challenges in your workplace,” he said, but people still show up for work. “Having a problem or an issue with somebody is no reason not to show up for work.” He pointed out that MPs are very well paid and when it was “time to work, it was time to work”.
“I really want to record my disgust as the minister of labour for the tens of thousands of people in this country that get up every single morning and face traffic, unfortunately, face challenges… And if you want to represent hard-working decent people, you need to go to work,” Saunder told the empty opposition benches.
The question also remains over how much the opposition’s own role in dealing with Bush in the past has led to him remaining in the prestigious office almost two years after he was convicted of assault.
When he was arrested following an attack on the female manager of a beach bar on Seven Mile Beach just before the pandemic, the PPM government did nothing and Bush continued to preside over legislative proceedings after he was charged. Even after he pleaded guilty on 3 December 2020, he continued in office conducting the historic ceremony to change the name of the Legislative Assembly to the House of Parliament.
At the time, Premier Alden McLaughlin dodged the situation. On Friday, the now opposition back-bencher insisted things were different then to the circumstances that Panton now finds himself in. While Bush presided over the formal renaming ceremony, McLaughlin said Bush didn’t sit over any other meetings of the House once he was convicted.
McLaughlin said he had only two choices: to debate the no-confidence vote that the opposition at the time was pushing for or put the question to the people. But the member for Red Bay denied he sought to avoid a challenge in the way the PACT government has now done.
Nevertheless, the record shows that the PPM-led government continued to take no action for several months and allowed Bush to remain in office even though there were no parliamentary meetings. It was apparent that Bush had threatened to topple the government if he was booted out of high office. But under growing public pressure, McLaughlin opted to call an early election to avoid a messy confrontation with Bush over the assault conviction.
The decision on Bush’s future was passed to the voters of West Bay West. But Bush retained his seat, albeit with the narrowest margin in his career, and none of the candidates he campaigned with were elected. Then, with Bush stalling the post-election horsetrading, Panton struck the controversial deal with him and Bush returned to the speaker’s chair.
The agreement, however, was supposed to achieve a number of things, such as excluding him from caucus and government business in exchange for his support for the PACT coalition government made up of the independents who had collectively achieved the most votes. But McLaughlin said Panton did this when he already knew that Bush was convicted and after Panton himself had resigned from the PPM because of their failure to remove him following the assault charges.
As allegations of hypocrisy continue on both sides over Bush, although his resignation is now on the record, he continues to fuel disruption and instability for PACT. The government is seeking to regroup following the opposition’s failure to turn up to deal with their proposed no-confidence vote in the PACT Government and the muted success of the confidence vote Friday. But it is clear the Bush scandal has exacerbated the turbulent political waters for Panton.
See the PPM press conference on YouTube below:
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Rather than truly steppibg up as a community against sexual violence, we Caymanians prefer to grab popcorn and watch drama play out. We are only too happy to pretend we’re helpless and leave it to “government” to fix. And we wonder why politicians carry on openly like thugs, gangsters, and self-serving pricks.
It must be because our politicians ARE thugs, gangsters, and self-serving pricks.
Don’t be silly Cayman majority of the persons who ran as independents and formed the current government where backed and funded by McKeeva campaigners. They fooled the people by pretending to be independents. The same people that ran CDP campaign ran for those who now form PACT. Stop being fooled by these people. It is not a Panton led PACT. He has no control over them. It is a nightmare inside Cabinet. McKeeva will still be running the show from the sidelines as those persons he funded and supported know they have to answer to him. It’s all a game in front of our eyes. These people are sick and they don’t care about your future. I’m not asking you I’m telling you.
So very sad that from the beginning the UK provided substandard education for the native population. Then banking became a big industry for the islands and local people were not properly trained or educated to run that business so foreigners were hired to do it. The average local Caymanian never had a chance. The few people on the islands who were able to alter records; steal property; acquire wealth that gave them power also took possession of who was elected. Native Caymanians have nobody else but themselves to blame for the stupidity that seems always to rise to the top here. I, for one, wish that it was back to line fishing, sharing of what people raise and not even have a single hotel on Grand Cayman. These days of simple life have long been gone and so has the integrity of far too many people in charge. Not too different than other places in the world! Sad, so very sad!!!
You are disgusting.
And dumb
Perhaps I am disgusting to you, but at least I am HONEST!
12:07pm:
Many multi-generational Caymanians have had successful banking careers as well as in many other fields.
My education in Cayman was far from substandard.
“UK provided substandard education “…?
That’s the most ridiculous statement ever….look at the middle aged and over, Caymanians that have had enormous success.
Single Parents of today’s young generation have to be blamed for not encouraging the many children they’ve had with different men,…not the UK.
Roger that! The truth is out! Sometimes the truth hurts.
Actually the education standards dropped when we introduced the Comprehensive system. Then Truman Bodden became Education Minister and ignored the Gangs forming. Then Roy Bodden stopped recruiting UK teachers and top quality Jamaican teachers and instead recruited those here for the dollar. Caymaniams 60+ all got an excellent education up ’til the late 70’s. We also ran many Financial firms but are now told we’re not capable by the new “Caymanians” who are also here for the dollar.
A certain politician’s “Caribbeanisation” of teachers gave us Caribbean schooling standards , being no match against those with first world education.
It’s heading towards Westminster intervention. Then the fun will begin.
We can only continue to pray.
Please call an early election. We need to fix the travesty that is happening here. Please Governor, please step in – make that figure head role you have count for something, and force an early election before PACT run us into the ground with their political immaturity and staggering ineptitude. Please save us from Wayne and these PACT clowns! We need electoral reform for a national vote (not SMC) and rules that make the candidates declare their alliances BEFORE the vote! We the electors need to have more certainty of the parliamentarians we are voting in and the administrations that will be formed, and never again should we be subjected to this dead of the night horse trading that results in this disgusting situation we have today. CALL AN EARLY ELECTION!
PPM, hush.
Unbelievable, Wayne has gone from leaving a party based on they no longer shared the same values following McBeaters assault, to forming a Govt with his inclusion and now gives him two aces to caucus with and stick to his own terms of resignation. That’s Wayne ‘The Leader’ ♣️♠️
I’ll stick to my own evaluation of no confidence
Is there a pattern here?
First thing PACT does after taking power does is vote themselves a huge raise.
Second achievement is to appoint someone who was convicted of a criminal offence for his acts while a member of a government appointed board to another government board
https://caymannewsservice.com/2021/12/fraudster-given-seat-on-transport-board/
Third achievement is to unlawfully refuse to allow a no confidence vote against the Speker and then to unanimously vote to keep Mac as Speaker and to invite him to be a member of the PACT caucus once he stops being Speaker.
Looks like a pattern to me. Maybe it has to do with having people with prior criminal convictions calling the shots?
Actually, they didn’t. PPM did that before they left office. PACT just had to find the money to continue paying for it.
The proof is in the fact that those who did not run again got the 3 months severance pay which PPM also approved for MPs who are voted out or decide not to run for office.
PPM wasted a lot of money!
Anonymous 11:36am is correct. The PACT inherited that law in the same way that they inherited the waste management project and both of them were still rough around the edges. Both have chunks that do not make sense, yet the PPM are quick to say they are their achievements. No administration is perfect, but as months go by we discover more and more the depth of the ditch the PPM pitched us into.
Wrong, they were under no obligation to vote in favor.
PACT should urgently book into Health City for MRIs to locate their spines.
I’m at the point where I am ignoring this. If they go independent, I’m packing up my business, firing all my staff and leaving. because this place would last 30 seconds without the UK.
We will survive after this denacle and we will go independent only and when the people of this country in its majority decide that is the way to go. So 6:40 am, whether you stay or go never mind we are resilient we came from nowhere without your help we are Survivors we are Caymanians. You can leave today if you wish GO!
Already begun the process my friend.
Idiots run the asylum
Yes, however an asylum in which we are also inmates. Now what are we going to do about that? Rattle our cages, or go back to listening to calming music?
We have a strong voice collectively, if we would just use it.
We are all just prisoners here of our own device.
A strong voice? Where is it???
Do us all a favour and take your whole UK system and the players both both local and foreign with you, including the charlatans who want independence for their own nefarious purposes as opposed to the wellbeing and the interests of the Cayman Islands and her people which your UK system does not serve.
Please leave and sell your property back to a native Caymanian who wouldn’t just abandon ship.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
You can’t afford it.
There seems to be something about politics. If you do it long enough, you forget the difference between right and wrong.
Sadly some districts seem to prefer politicians who dont know that difference.
Some districts appear to simply prefer the guy that buys the rounds at the local bar.
*garrisons
It’s called loosing objectivity. Panton lost his already. It took Alden and Mac far longer.
The shambles continues. None of these clowns have any shame.
I hope Santa brings Wayne a new pair this year. He hasn’t been a very good boy and certainly seems to have lost whatever dignity he once had.
Section 2.2 of the laughable PACT Ministerial Code of Conduct says:
“Ministers are required to behave in a way that protects the integrity of the decision-making process and upholds the highest standards of propriety”
Wayne – are you going to report yourself and all your Ministers for breaching that obligation?
From where I sit all the Ministers breached that obligation when they voted to keep Mac on as Speaker and invited him to be a full member of PACT if he ever steps down as Speaker.
What about Wayne approaching Roy to form a new government? Did Wayne breach the code?
If you believe that I have some land to sell you also!
Roy didn’t say Wayne approached him, Alden did. If Roy knew that to be true he would have nodded in agreement when his leader Alden said it, instead he just bowed his head in a state of disbelief…Watch the video.School children in China know they can’t trust anything that comes out of Alden’s mouth..
They didn’t vote to keep him on. They voted to accept his resignation..big difference. Let’s just celebrate that he is no longer in that seat come November 30. A feat that could not be accomplished by the PPM in 12 years..
PACT’s decision to allow Bush to stay on as Speaker is bad but the decision that truly shows their lack of common decency and their level of morality is their decision to invite him to be a part of the PACT government and the PACT caucus after he steps down as Speaker. PACT approves of all that Bush is and has done.
What would you expect PACT to do: send Bush over to the Opposition and lose his vote? Think of political strategy. Doesn’t make sense.
PACT installing him as Speaker despite history and an active criminal probation was the original sin. All sensation of right and wrong went missing at that point.
They did not have to invite him. He was already part of the PACT Government. Why would they give up a vote to Alden and gang..Better the enemies you know..
Imagine Mac will be in Caucus now and able to influence PACT Policy. With his control over Chris, Kenneth and Jay that’s 4 votes that Wayne cannot rely on. That’s enough to move the balance on very controversial issues, Wayne cannot be very confident right now! his days are numbered, just a matter of time before he is demoted. I figure that will come when they appoint Alric speaker.
It’s all about the numbers even if Mac and those you ,ention bandy together in Caucus they still don’t have the numbers . If PPM takes the, on very likely with their lust for regaining power they still don’t have a majority. They will have to decimate 70: percent of the PACT . So let’s see what obtains in the near future
Thanks for pointing that out. Wayne being all soft on the Big Mac is really sealing his fate . Quite a number, if not all of the PACK, has been and is possibly being mentored by the Big Mac. They hold no loyalty to Wayne so who do you think they will support? They claim to be together now, just wait until the next caucus meeting. I heard that one of them threw a chair at him before so he better be prepared. Such a crying shame.
Shame on cayman! everyone who facilitated this .
Just Another Day in Absurdistan
And to think Bush and KB profess to be CHRISTIANS!
You don’t know that they are not.
Matthew 7:16 “By their deeds you will know them.”
That provides a fairly good basis for doubting what they profess to their constituents.
Deuteronomy 5:21 – One of the ten commandments if I am not mistaken.
So call Christians are the worse kind of people. They just hiding behind the Church. Watch out for them, never trust them.
Bush got what he wanted, another $300,000 or so + perks to stuff in his already fat pockets.
As for Chris Saunders’ comments about the absence of the opposition, what about the hundreds of civil servants who have sat at home over the years, some for as long as 4 years, on full salary waiting to appear in court for their cases to be heard?.
4:58 you need help if you think hundreds of Civil Servants sat at home while awaiting court.
Also what does one thing have to do with another.
Politicians chosing to not show up vs a civil servant required to stay from work.
Poor you
Hundreds?? Dramatic much? Two wrongs don’t make a right and condoning people not showing up for work civil servants or MP’s shows that you think this is something that is okay..It is not!
Hardly hundreds…
But, 7:08, that is typical of the lies and exaggerations that are constantly repeated on CNS by posters whose only point is to denigrate government employees, including hundreds…yes hundreds….who do an honest day’s work to earn their pay.
Thank you! They think if they say it long enough that everyone will believe it..Condoning MP’s staying home when they are being paid is unconscionable.
My favorite part is PACT will accept Bush as one of their back benchers, which will allow him to caucus with them (something he could not do as Speaker). And since PACT barely knows the difference between Caucus and Cabinet, he’s going to wield enormous influence while Kenny, Jay and Chris lap up his lessons.
Get ready of Mac Daddy Bush in Caucus.
If only we had a Governor with a spine.
4:40 tell us what control he has over politicians.
Section 84 of the Constitution allows the Governor to dissolve Parliament and call for new elections. In the current circumstances in which PACT is operating outside of the Constitution because of the Deputy Speaker’s unlawful decision to refuse the vote of no confidence in Bush, the Governor should dissolve Parliament.
The whole point of the new constitution was to show that we have gained enough political maturity to run things ourselves and to further show that the Governor just needs to sit in his office, cutting ceremonial ribbons now and then. That is what our politicians have been bitching for for many years now. Since getting the constitution, we have demonstrated convincingly how politically immature we are and how totally unready we are to govern ourselves.
Don’t give PPM any more ideas..Think they have tried just about everything to seize power.
Unfortunately, another election will seal the fate of the PPM and that can’t come too soon.
why seek the governor’s involvement when the politicians need to take action. And if no action taken by elected Maps, then where’s the big crown of ordinary members of the public, to protest about their elected officials ?
PACT are hardly going to start operating within the law, let alone their own totally ignored ‘Code of Conduct’. The Governor has the ability to end this farce of a Parliament and call for new elections.
Cockroach and rooster fight. Roper knows his role.
We had one. Helen would have taken care of this long ago.
She was a great Governor – knew right from wrong which we are lacking now!!!
Absolutely disgusting. Call an early election NOW! The people deserve better and deserve to know the government they are voting in – not the midnight horse trading that cobbles governments together based on hapless independents. ENOUGH of Panton’s thirst for power by any means necessary!
The people don’t deserve any better, especially those in Newlands. They gave up a good honest representative for this!!!!
PACT messed up here. There is something significant that is being overlooked. PPM might have already picked up on this. Apparently, the PACT is all about gambling with democracy, the Caymanian people’s lives and good governance.
“Some cause happiness wherever they go, others when they go” Oscar Wilde (attributed).
McBush god bless you at the final curtain. Your comedic genius will live on forever as will your repulsiveness to most every woman on this island.
In the words of Sinatra “I did it my way”
This begs the question whether the Speaker has leverage over all PACT members. By caving in to the Speakers terms they condone his behaviour and his remaining in his post. Bush is clearly not fit to be Speaker let alone an MP after he steps down. This is nothing short of a travesty. Shame on PACT and most of all the Premier who lacks the gumption, backbone and party support to rightly end the political career of a miscreant like McKeeva Bush.
Y’all stop ya foolishness ya hear. A new Speaker needs to be appointed. A speaker with requisite knowledge of parliamentary protocol and procedures. For Bush to vacate his seat immediately as a large number of idjuts are clamoring for would be disastrous for the Parliament. As is done in the Private sector resignation date was negotiated in line with the aforesaid need. Whether PPM or you monkeys who don’t think like it or not it was the right decision.. Bush has not been charged with any crime as yet , he hasn’t been fired by the Parliament for the no numb nuts ppm are too busy talking shiiiite on the street and abrogating their duty of attending lParliament. As is done in the Private sector and even in government, the Uk is a prime example, the resignation was accepted en Toto with an agreed date. So until then PPM says they will add vacation days with pay to their already swollen salaries. Let that be a real unforgettable lesson to the six constituencies these slackers represent.
Bush has not been charged with anything yet ?
“If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.Part IV
So politicians are entitled to drunkenly harass and abuse civil servants and members of the public attending government functions so long as they manage to avoid being charged with a criminal offence? Your mindset is typical of that of PACT as evidenced by the fact that PACT has invited Bush to join their caucus.
You only have to read the last paragraph of McKeeva’s resignation letter to find the answer to your question.
https://cnslibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/Speakers-resignation-letter-3-October-2022.pdf
The majority of PACT members, but not the Premier, want him. The real question being begged would be: Is Wayne the Premier or just a figurehead who is temporarily being tolerated by the coalition he believes that he put together?
Why would this have required leverage – The house isn’t likely to be sitting again aside from this sitting
Mckeeva staying in office as a lame duck ‘Speaker’ until the end of November will have almost no effect on anything of substance. This is the political equivalent of giving someone on death row their last meal, it changes nothing and at the end of the day means nothing.
Just avoids a nasty protracted political show by Mckeeva grandstanding and moaning and fighting using the procedural power of the Speaker.
Would it be nice if he left immediately? Sure, does it matter either as long as he leaves prior to the next sitting? Not really
This is just much ado about nothing as usual from the PPM who I would remind you and others are the only reason he is even probably still in Parliament – if he had actually be removed as Speaker by vote and fully disgraced in 2021 as the opposition at the time tried to do it is highly likely he would have lost his seat in the 2021 election. He only retained his seat by less than 30 votes likely because the PPM spared him the public embarrassment of being formally defrocked.
What you fail to realise: this approach to confronting Mac is, as the previous Government’s was, a mechanism by which individuals could avoid registering a vote against him.
Why? Think.
What you fail to realise: this approach to confronting Mac is, as the previous Government’s was call early election), a mechanism by which individuals could avoid registering a vote against him.
Why? Think.
Yet even now, not a single voter has organized a petition to amend the Elections Law to bar those with criminal convictions from eligibility for this echelon of public trust. Don’t like the view, change the landscape. Do it, or let history repeat itself!
Why don’t you and your friends do it? Why are you wanting to do something you identify as a need for Cayman?
#voters
For love of country, apparently.
There’s a very small part of me, very small, that would love Jon Jon in charge. In reality he shouldn’t be allowed to run a tap let alone a country but can you imagine the fun we’d have for a while!
Not with you for Jon Jon running the Cayman Islands, but definitely would love to hear him speak more often. Dwayne “The Brain” never disappoints with comedic relief.
Who would win in a debate between Jon Jon and David Wight?
I got my money on Jon Jon. What say you?
Only because Jon Jon can debate in more languages.
agreed or Kenny
I wouldn’t let him water my house plants.
Banana, anyone?
Hilarious even thinking about it!!!
Barbara was happy to sit in the LA with Bush when the video proved he mauled the bartender, but now all of a sudden, she has issues with the female gov members sitting with Bush as the speaker. Barbara we already knew you have spaghetti for a spine but now THERE IS NO DOUBT. We see you Barbara!!!
At least she stepped up this time- she is way ahead of the PACK dumbasses. Barbara I am proud of you
She should have stood up before, that would have made a difference.
She gets no credit for something Alden made her do!
Standing up for politricks and not when it matters … oh please!
I suppose power has a price, and you pay it by giving up your sense of shame.
And any morals you may have once possessed.
Disgusting, every last one of them.
Yup, with a special place on the list for “Sir” Alden.
Governor, you really fell for that one, didn’t you.
Disgusting.