Mac launches non-profit ahead of plans for re-election
(CNS): McKeeva Bush MP (WBW) will be running for office again despite previous comments that he was stepping away from the political fray. On Wednesday, Bush launched what he described as a non-profit organisation (NPO), which he is inviting people to join. He said it will eventually shape into a new political group and hopes to field enough candidates to “win a majority” on a common policy platform.
At a press conference in the parliament building to introduce the NPO, Bush called the current administration a “mess” that remains plagued by internal disagreement but has not yet confirmed who will join him on the campaign trail.
He named several people that he supports, including government colleagues André Ebanks, Kathy Ebanks-Wilks, Jay Ebanks and Kenneth Bryan and independent opposition MP Chris Saunders, and implied that he would like these individuals to join him.
Bush said he had “spoken to” them about his new non-profit, which he has named the Organization for a Better Cayman Islands (OBC), but that so far, no one had confirmed that they would be running for office on this new platform.
CNS has reached out to the MPs he named, and we are awaiting a response.
Bush said this non-profit is not a political party. The aim is for people to join the OBC and establish a board, which will develop a manifesto setting out a policy platform on which the group of candidates that the board selects will stand.
He said there were some good current MPs who should be returned to office, but there were others who should be replaced, and he urged those who have run in the past to have another go.
Bush said he was not looking for a leadership position in any future government, and even if he did not win his own seat — though he was very confident he would win — he would still work on helping to shape the non-profit and its goals.
“It was not my intention to stand for re-election next year,” Bush said. “However, based on strong encouragement from my West Bay community and all over the island and some members of this parliament, I have decided to stand for election next year if certain conditions are met and they agree to focus on nation-building and the creation of institutions that will serve our people long after many of us have departed from politics and this earth.”
Although he has no confirmed candidates and few specific policies have been set out, Bush offered his views on some of the challenges that the country is facing and “some very hard issues” to solve. He was critical of the current administration, which he indicated was still troubled by infighting and disagreements, and said the alliances in this government since the election had failed.
He also took direct aim at Health Minister Sabrina Turner in particular, accusing her of failing in her role by being “so hands off” over the delays relating to the much-needed mental health facility. He said that if he were in charge of Cabinet, he would have removed her from the ministry.
Bush is not a member of Cabinet, but as parliamentary secretary for the border control and labour ministry and the planning ministry, he has worked with the UPM since Wayne Panton was ousted as premier in November last year.
Nevertheless, he made it clear that he thought this administration still wasn’t working because it was impossible for its members to agree on policy positions. He said that even with the collective responsibility of the Cabinet, Premier Julianna-O’Connor-Connolly has a hard job keeping the ministers in line because everyone in the government claims they were elected on their own. He said that alliances, rather than parties or groups, have not worked.
Asked if he believed the former PPM administration was a better government than this one, Bush fell short of saying it was better but made it clear he preferred it and “got along” better with that group.
Bush, too, is in disagreement with his colleagues and has also made it clear that if the OBC candidates win the majority, they will immediately begin plans for cruise berthing facilities, regardless of the outcome of the referendum. Even if there is a ‘no’ vote, he does not believe that would properly represent the people’s views, he said.
Next year, when he stands for what he has said really will be the last time, Bush will have been in office for forty years. He accepted that, given the concern he has about doing things better, people will ask why he has not already addressed the issues over those four decades.
“I want to say right here, right now, that they are right to ask that question because I, too, ask myself those same questions,” he said. “How could I have done it better? How could I have done it differently?
“The passage of time and hindsight have given me some answers, and one of those answers is that I should have engaged the people of the Cayman Islands more and explained to them the vision that I was working towards. My presence here today and having this press conference is me learning to do things better and differently,” he added.
Bush said he believes that he has a duty and a responsibility to have a “frank and honest conversation” with the Caymanian people and all those who live here.
“Simply put, we must do a better job of building institutions that will serve, protect and prepare the people of the Cayman Islands for the challenges that we are now facing and will continue to face. As I said earlier, we need to put our differences aside, live better with each other, and rebuild a community that creates opportunity for our people where we can once again share and care for each other,” Bush stated.
Listing what he had already done, Bush said his political experience had given him the “impetus and encouragement to create the non-profit Organization for a Better Cayman.” While a lot of good has been done, there is still a lot more to be done, he said.
“There are many good people that are elected now and there are some of them I would like to see returned next year,” he said. “There are also others that I would love to see try throw their hat into the ring again as I believe they have a lot to offer. I ask them to not be discouraged if they lost before.”
Bush said he planned to meet with other people that he believes have a lot to offer and will encourage them to run.
“I won’t call their names here as I don’t want to get them in trouble with their employers,” he said. “To those thinking about getting into representative politics, I can say that despite the challenges, it is still a noble cause. Don’t let all the negativity discourage you from considering public service. As I enter the twilight of my life in politics, I have no desire to play any leadership role other than to see the parliament a better place than when I entered it.”
Bush told the press that the aim now was to start building this new organisation from the ground up and be ready in time for the election to field as many candidates as possible to win.
See the outline of Bush’s OBC below:
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: 2025 General Elections, Elections, Politics
McKeeva Bush is one of the reason why the Cayman Islands is in this sorry state it is currently now in. He stood firm on some UK issues, but he opened the flood gates and let greed entered in and took over. Look at our beaches today.
He said he’d build a cruise berthing facility no matter the outcome of the referendum. That’s not democracy.
Well he checked his outgoing and realized there’s no way he could retire on his pension and free medical for life. Imagine the poor retired private sector persons?
Return of the Mack
It is (return of the Mack)
Come on (return of the Mack)
Oh, my God (you know that I’ll be back)
Here I am
Return of the Mack
Once again (return of the Mack)
Top of the world (return of the Mack)
Watch my flow (you know that I’ll be back)
Here I go
So, I’m back up in the game (hustlin’ so)
Running things like half my swing (All night long)
Lettin’ all the people know
That I’m back to run the show
‘Cause what you did you know was wrong
And all the nasty things you’ve done (oh, oh, oh, oh)
So baby, listen carefully
While I sing my comeback song
What what? He lied? No freakin way? McBeater lied? Well I’m shocked. Go to prison you bell end.
Why are we afraid to say it? This man has no shame.
Just disgusting how people just gravitate to this piece a bush who obviously has no moral compass, no brougtupsy or lost it a long time ago. How can the people of west bay entertain him being a Member if zzpstliamentbyet again after his seemingly uncaring , bizarre? Disgusting and embarrassing behavior not once not twice but countless times. Bizarre situation.
Cut him
Loose peopl, he has outlived his political usefulness and is just working on our dime not being able to commandeer total respect within and outside of these islands.
Mckeeva Nush must go sit down and scratch wa left’s
It is time for the Cayman electorate to show it’s true colors – elect a disgrace, or move forward with a new vision. And yes, I know that the choices may not be wonderful, but then at least elect the ‘least’ disgraceful.
caymanians elect these people so you have no-one else to blame but yourselves.
and to make things worse, you also prevent the most qualified and successful people on island from being elected…
welcome to wonderland.
” you also prevent the most qualified and successful people on island” like who?
you act like there all these brilliant new faces when its the same recycled batch since i was in high school basically. all the new dogs just doing the old tricks so whats new… nothing.
He says it is not a political party! His ramblings sounds like a political party- just saying.
Not ona fareiners I tired a ona trying to rule. Hi back to Ona yard !
easy solution to this. ppm and upm just come out and say they will not form a government with mac or his new party.
Why would anyone support or trust this person. Just look at his history. An absolute disgrace and an embarrassment to our country.
And yet the 3’rd grade educated still cast votes for him.
Cayman’s Baby Trump will never go away.
Not as long as he gets re-elected. The power is in the people. A complete disgrace to Cayman – which they wear in shame.
Does DCI recall why his last one was shut down? How short are memories in Cayman?!?
why is he still in politics? Enough is enough! He stated “the current administration is a mess” and yet has invited the same politicians to form a new political party” more of nothing. They ALL NEED TO GO!
‘Enough is enough’ was applicable several election cycles ago – WHY do you still elect him???????? (Yes, I know the reasons and the history, but stop making excuses).
Didn’t he already have one that had.. ‘questionable’ accounting practices? Something about missing account statements right before the law was passed that all NPOs needed to make their statements public?
“Bush said he had “spoken to” them about his new non-profit, which he has named the Organization for a Better Cayman Islands (OBC),”
🙄
I have another name for the acronym, OBC.
Old Bush Con.
Is that a descriptive fit?
Term Limits for elected MP’s, please hurry come! But it’s not likely with the ones holding onto the 3 P’s — Power, Privilege and Prestige. Not to mention the money!
“The government consists of a gang of men” (and women)…”exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office.” – H. L. Mencken
So, is this the new party by Don?
And there you have it folks. A list of Mac’s likeminded and ethically challenged politicians. God help us if this crew forms our next government.
Think about this If Kenneth Bernie Mac Jay Sabrina Kathy lost the election what would they do.
Kenneth perhaps a talk show host
Bernie remain unemployed
Mac reopen landscaping business
Jay go back to construction work
Kathy legal secretary
Sabrina reopen her immigration service
How many of you would employ them.
Why do we think this group can run our country.
And there we all were thinking the worst of the virus had passed.
Mac has failed our fellow Caymanians miserably
In fairness, he has never worked for us. Much like the cheeto to the north, just wants your wote.
Who wrote all this for him?
Was there not a Speaker of the House visiting from UK a few months ago? What was the reason of his visit?
Who is behind writing this not from Bushy’s mouth or writing…?
Me thinks a group of people were working earnestly to put a new group together and made the mistake of sharing the document with MacDaddy who went out on his own and announced it.
“Simply put, we must “…” stop electing convicted criminals, drunks and gambling addicts.
All I can say is it’s never non-profit where McKeeva is concerned.
Something tells me that this won’t be non profit.
27 voters. That was the margin of victory in WBW in 2021.
as a WBW voter who did NOT vote for Mac, this gives me hope that we have enough newly registered voters in our district to get this guy OUT!! Please please vote him out, there are too many of us in WBW that are sick of being stereotyped into the Mac clown posse! We don’t want him!! go away!
That is good news! Well done!!
How do know 22 of the 68 new voters that signed up will a. reside in WBW and b. would not wote for Mac if they did?
please Katharine, Andre you can’t join him.
I don’t know if I care about the others, hoping KB won’t get in again.
I trust Andre and Katherine will not be seduced to join forces with him.
KB has one of the largest majorities in Cayman. He knows his constituents and how to please them.
and the environment, everyone else in Cayman, and our future is irrelevant
If someone supplied me with gummies all year I would be pleased and vote for them.
He is giving them a Wishing Well! I wish they could wish him away!
5.37 He only had a large majority because many GTC voters didn’t vote as in good conscience they couldn’t vote for either candidate.
Any potential alignment between McKeeva and Kathy would be seen as a betrayal of her integrity and a disservice to the fight for women’s rights in Cayman.
As for all of the names mentioned? I hope they realize that associating with someone who has a history of violence, gambling, and alcoholism diminishes their credibility as a leaders striving to enact meaningful change.
I would be deeply ashamed to have my name mentioned alongside someone who stands in opposition to the very principles I advocate for.
But here’s a question, why haven’t we received a statement as yet from any of those he mentioned denouncing Mac publicly?
‘Even if there is a ‘no’ vote, he does not believe that would properly represent the people’s views, he said.’ So a dictatorship then? Have a referendum for the sake of democratic principles, but ignore the outcome if it doesn’t align with what he wants.
To use his own words, I do not believe Mac is representative of the people with a 27 vote majority, so let us also ignore that vote.
Mac does not want Katherine or Andre on his team. He has already recruited candidates to run in WBE and WBS. He is already playing games with kenny and chris, promising them both the position of premier. One would really habe to be an idiot or a criminal to vote for bush,sanders or bryan.
You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. In the name of God, go.
In the name of the people F O! what do you not understand..narcassists never do!
In the nane of sanity and criminality..F O!!!
I’m interested to see who’s going to put their hands up to align themselves and enable this despicable filth of a character, ….. but then hey, Wayne did… 😔😔😔
Yes that was shocking. But instructive.
why is he still in politics? Enough is enough! He stated “the current administration is a mess” and yet has invited the same politicians to form a new political party” more of nothing. They ALL NEED TO GO!
Wayne did what alden and ppm did. didn’t they need numbers to for a Gov? But of course alden made some sweet deals with hom to save his arse.
I can’t help but read this article and think about Mr Ezzard Miller’s letter the other day. Seeing oafs like McKeeva put himself forward for a position of authority, and we wonder why young Caymanians have no serious role models with good old fashioned Caymanians values? Why bother with that, when you can spend on government credit cards, harass women, and buy your support? Seriously, why does anyone give this guy the time of day?? He’s nothing but a self-serving drain on Caymanian resources. Don’t get drawn in, Cayman!
Spot on!!
We do need a fresh slate of people to stand for election and I think this is a great step in the right direction.
Sorry, there are none.
lolol you standing Czar of Russian Cayman?
West Bay West BOBO.
Not Cayman then, stay in WBW! Boo Hoo Booo!
You do talk rubbish!
If Mckeeva was really interested in leaving Parliament in a better state than he found it he would vacate his seat immediately.
That would be a immediate marked improvement, he should have been expelled from Parliament following his conviction but no one in Cayman is held accountable for their actions other than regular Caymanians
Not ‘vacate’, his word Cayman Compass, if people do not agree they can ‘Evacuate’
If Bush is forming a not for profit does that mean all other parties are in the game for a profit
lol go Chris!
no thanks…
direct rule for 2 years while a new raft of political candidates are selected/vetted based on qualifications, experience and integrity. then we have new elections.
Yeah, why don’t we let the quickly-imploding shithole that the UK has become just up and take over their most successful overseas territory and ruin that, too? 🙄 You sound stupid.
Absolutely correct. They can’t rule themselves.
bot alert
Another Brit that wants total control of Cayman.
Colonizers gonna colonize
If you love the UK that much, please go live there instead.
fyi mac, im not sure what your plan is for interest rates. however, we cannot set our own interest rates since we are pegged to the USD.
Bobo McKeeva does not know the basics of economics after all his time in power.
As bad as Trump and his total misunderstanding of tariffs.
So you support unelected illiterate globalist liberals?
Yup
6:11, At least globalist liberals and until recently globalist conservatives all agreed that tariffs do not work. It was a given since the depression that basically started with the economic lessons of the depression that began 100 years ago when significant tariffs started in America.
All economists who have a university level understanding of economics know that tariffs do not work.
Never met a globalist liberal who did not think international trade was a good thing. Even the illiterate “liberals”. 😆
True 10.03, but his uneducated idiot supporters don’t know that, and all that matters to Mac is that They’ll believe him.
Something tells me this will not be the last new organization/party announced before election season
It is truly depressing that the future of this wonderful place , is going to be in the hands of the likes of Mac Kenneth Saunders and Seymour.
Each with a past that nobody could be proud of , a future we must all fear, and none with a shred of education or integrity
Mac in power will mean that these parasites will finish the job of Cayman’s descent into the cess pit.
The cess pit being Jamaica.