Bush talked on ‘integrity’
(CNS): The University College of the Caribbean confirmed Thursday afternoon that the Cayman Islands premier was delivering the commencement address that evening at the institution’s graduation ceremony but would not be receiving the honorary doctorate.The college said that McKeeva Bush had been rescheduled to speak, but despite reports in the Jamaican media that he was to get the special degree, the UCC said that was not the case. Bush, who is currently on police bail following his arrest on Tuesday and two days of questioning by the RCIPS in connection with an on-going corruption investigation, spoke on the theme "Integrity: the Language of Leadership".
The embattled premier, who, despite mounting pressure, has categorically stated that he has done nothing wrong and will not resign as premier, left Cayman early this morning on a Cayman Airways flight to Jamaica. Soon after his departure his office released a short statement in which Bush professed his innocence and said he was intending to honour his commitment to UCC.
“My fellow Caymanians and residents, as you are aware, I was scheduled to travel to Jamaica on Wednesday 12th Decemeber for the conferral of an honorary doctorate upon myself and to give the commencement address to the student body at the University College of the Caribbean. I feel obligated to honor this commitment and have decided to attend. I will be returning to the island this Friday,” Bush stated.
In a statement delivered in the wake of Bush’s announcement that he would not be resigning from office, the opposition leader said he was treating the matter of his arrest with utter impunity and was determined to return to business as usual, pointing to Bush’s decision to still go to Jamaica and speak about integrity, despite his circumstances.
The premier was arrested at his home in West Bay on Tuesday in connection with on-going police investigations that relate to the misuse of a government credit card as well as the premier’s connection to a consignment of explosives imported by local firm Midland Acres without the necessary permits.
Suresh Prasad, the MD of that firm who has already been convicted of four counts in Summary Court relating to the importation, was also re-arrested this week and questioned by police.
The premier is suspected of theft, breach of trust, abuse of office and conflict of interest, and although released from custody yesterday afternoon, he has been bailed by police to return for further questioning in February. In the meantime, the police have confirmed that the investigations continue both here and overseas.
At the time of Bush’s arrest the authorities also seized computers, books and other related items from his home and office.
Category: Politics
Integrity? One simple way to answer this. Did Big Mac pay for this trip out his own pocket? This is not governmentbusiness, but an invitation to be a guest speaker.
Let us know FOI.
Just answer the question instead of dodging.
He does believe in creationism so he is deluded.
What a Buffoon!!!
It is easy to talk the talk.
Walking the walk is another matter.
Fa La La La La, La La La La……………………….
UCC? Dr.? I wouldn’t go to a Doctor with a degree from UCC.
Dat is where doctors who can’t get into a real university go to be a Dr.
So true UCC is only interested in taking your money I started attending UCc and realised it was only students who could not get into any other univeristy who attend there, I quickly switched. If you are already at UCC I suggest you only do your associate and find somewhere else to get a real degree.
Must have been a short speech.
Not really. Between Richard and Lenard it seems it could have gone on for quite some time, although still not necessarily making any sense whatsoever.
Previous commencement speakers include Judas Iscariot on "Loyalty", Silvio Berlusconi on "Fidelity" and Adolf Hitler on "Racial Harmony".
Given the circumstances I am appalled that UCC allowed Bush to deliver any speech at the school's commencement, muchless a speech regarding "integrity" and "leadership". I absolutely cannot wrap my mind around this horrid example of poor judgement on the part of an educational institution. For shame, UCC!
Beyond being both ironic and hypocritical that the subject matter of Bush's speech was "integrity" and "leadership", it is unfathomable that UCC allowed him be their keynote speaker and deliver such a speech: the fact that he refuses to protect the integrity and good name of either his country or the office of Premier proves that Bush possesses little of either quality. A wise and selfless leader with any integrity would have done the right thing and stepped down until the cloud over his person and the office of Premier could be resolved. For shame, Mr. Bush! For shame, UCC!
The moral compass – the integrity and the leadership – of the UCC administration must be horribly broken. For UCC to uphold Bush as a role model to their young students is not only poor judgement, it is an unpardonable breach of their solemn responsibility as educators. I would not send my dog to UCC to learn to sit much less entrust them with educating a young person.
For shame UCC!
Lovely picture of Mr Bush. You should have heard his speech. Brilliant. It was so motivating and capturing. You have to put aside what is going on with him amd take away what he said at the ceremony. For those who did not attend the cermony read the jamaican gleaner for extract of his speech. It was a brilliant speech. Im going out there to tell my story. So you guys can stay there spend your time critizing people rather than taking control of your own destiny. When you go to church not all pastors are saint but you learn to take away from the ceremony what will uplift you and motivate you. Forget about what the pastor is. You are NOt the judge of man. God is!!!!!!
So no one should be held accountable for their actions by the law and the courts, and politicians in particular should not be held accountable by the people?
I am a Christian. You are an embarrassment to my faith.
and which planet are you from – or what have you been smoking??????
Am… you do know that he did not write that speech!! Glad you took away something positive though.
Style over substance. It works on the idiots every time. It obviously works on you. So, logically, you are an idiot.
If he didn't receive his Doctorate why is he wearing cap and gown?
Ah but he already has a Master's Degree from ICCI. lol.
What dope allowed Mac to wear a graduation cap and gown?
Well maybe he showed up in his North Korean dictator suit and they thought the gown might be preferable.
It's a graduate of fifth grade outfit.
Probably some dope whose friend Mac gave irrevocable status to. Or maybe they figured that was the only way he would ever get to wear a cap and gown.
There's lots of Dope in Jamaica
Coke and kiyah on fiyah.
Mr Bush's performance Thursday is merely one more in a long line of questionable speeches by questionable men.
Remember when Ida Amin addressed the Royal Gormet Eaters' Society of London? That was in poor taste to say the least. What about when OJ Simpson spoke at the LA Spouse Abuse retreat? Even worse is the time the current Pope was made an honored guest at the Rome convention on "Protecting the Young Child".
Even our own Young Caymanian Leadership Award event has a long and illustrious history of featuring various slime balls to speakabout truth and honesty: Oliver North, Fox clown Steve Douchey, Huckabee, Miles McPherson (whacko who thinks all gays are child molesters) and so on.
Rock on, Mr. Bush, you are in good company.
What makes Huckabee a slime ball?
If you have to ask, you would never understand
Is it because he is not a liberal?
Who gives a rats ass about this university or whicherer moron they happen to appoint to deliver their graduation speech. Lets face it Caymanians, Bush has to go and his croonies or our next door neighbours will soon take us over and elevate us to their status in the world and who in the hell wants that. They should keep him there as he'll fit right in with their loud boombastic attitude and corrupt culture.
@ Anymous 10:48. You are just jealous of Jamaicans and Mr Mac. Dont hate the players my friend, hate the game. Go further your studies!
What a fool!!!
Why? Can't he get an honorary doctorate too? Obviously no standards are required.
So that's 86 racist, xenophobic Caymanians. No shock there then.
As a member of Big Mac's entourage to Jam, I have to say that we are all disappointed to find out that Mac did not receive his Doctrate after 28 years of study. This has put a damper on our party plans. That plus the fact that the police did not return his government-issued credit card.
Big Mac is inconsolable and we the members of his inner circle have been brainstorming and have come up with a few ideas that just barely managed to crease his beautiful face that we all adore with the smallest hint of a smile. A special new category of shiny medals with green ribbons is his favourite. A new title of Distinguished Liberator, which is above National Hero and can only be held by one person at a time, he will award to himself on National Heroes Day in January.
Oh well, no big deal because if the Jamaicans think they are doing themselves any favour by this decision, they are mistaken !! what a waste of a nice piece of paper to print that certificate. Pastors have been arrested and jailed in the past for being unscrupulous so no big deal if a paper Doctor goes. PhD my toenails !
Haaaaaahaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaa – you mean look at him and do the exact opposite if you want to act with integrity.
lthe University College of the Caribean has just lost all its integrIty.
Saw the headline….thought it was April fools day….funniest thing I have heard all year.
the man is an embarrassment to the human race…..
It must be hard to speak on a subject that you know absolutely nothing about.
A subject that is contrary to the perception of his actions.
What a damned joke!
Ma big speech on Integrity: I say Integrity is paramount to runnin a country. I say Integrity is paramount to runnin dem guvanment. I say Integrity is paramount to being a leader wid a big mouth and a big mattress – nobody look under dat yet. I say. ha ha ha… I don't know what I's sayin… I's jus sayin bla bla bla. I's da best. Now whe youz peeple put me dagree dat shows I's a doctor in Integrity and Intelligence. Nobody guts no moe Integrity dan me!
Ha!Ha!Ha! and one for the road HA!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFnZQvEUzU&feature=player_embedded#!
Classic interview with a narcissist. Put a microphone in front of him and listen to the drivel…
Big Mac has outdone himself again.
I wonder what the water cooler talk in the FCO offices was when they heard that Bush was giving a convocation speech on Integrity at a University.
Keke Lookin all guilty, paro and ashamed. Look at his face and eyes as he talks. Can you tell the difference in the way he is talking. Listen to how he is talking and the things he is saying. He looks sooo humble to the Jamaican people.
And Mac is not acting Sissy ok, so dont even go there.
Guilty, paro and ashamed. I would be too if was him… like HELL. I would have went into HIDING instead and to hell with the Doctorate and LESS the Speech on what? **INTEGRITY**
It would take the Premier to speak on the Topic – Integrity, what a joke. We have been dragged through the mud and there isn't any pressure hose to remove it. Plastered forever.
Not only is this an embarrassment to intelligent Caymanians of integrity and class but also to the Jamaican people. The fact that they have people claiming ot be intelligent engaging with Mac in this way speakes volumes of who they are as well.
INTEGRITY, ME FOOT, HIM NA EASY
The problem with obtaining an education rather than earning one is that you are uneducated so you make uneducated decisions. I don't understand why he would even want to accept one as he is obviously uneducated.
Bwahahahaha….catches breath…BWAHAHAHA!!!…my eyes are filled with water
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters”
― Albert Einstein
There goes his honarary PhD, oh boy how it means that he will have to do it all over again and give another round of status grants to improve the lives of any J'can now in Cayman without status. Hum bugger, give the man his PhD he worked for it. Well I see the bright side already he/UDP will never lose the elections in Cayman. J'can have the voting numbers and dis is da keys to da kingdom.
what a joke
Hilarious, isn’t it? How funny is that? McKeeva given a speech on “Integrity the language of leadership”. They might as well resurrect Adolph Hitler and ask him to give a speech on “Equality, the Blueprint for a modern Socialist Society”!
Moo hahahahahahhahaha.
I think I just peed a little.
Lol "the Language of Leadership". If by that you mean incoherent ranting
Haha. The premier has gone to Jamaica to talk about "integrity" & to receive an honorary degree, but has been informed that it is being witheld until after the investigation is completed. Firstly, what a B-slap! OUCH! He was still hoping to receive that play-play thing that eluded him during his education years. Secondly, it doesn't say much for the confidence that they have in his innocence, but who does? He wanted people to greet him at the airport on his return with his "honorary" degree. Embarrassment. I guess that "degree" will have to be earned the hard way, or be earned in the walls of northward, if so be the case. OUCH! That really did hurt though.
They at that university/college should be ashamed of themselves. Didn't they know that he was already under investigation before they came out with this cock and bull idea of bestowing a doctorate on him?
Merry Christmas!
They misunderestimate him!
He didn't even attend the UCCI commencement.
Anyone else on police bail for such a serious matter would not have been able to to travel on pleasure would they? So why the specail treatment….
Are you seriously telling me that the police have not taken this mans passports?
He HAS to be a flight risk.
Yeah, Hugo Chavez is reported to be in bad shape in Cuba. Maybe he could just go to Venezuela and replace Chavez until he is well enough to take over again.
I just hope the Chamber of Commerce and all its staff heard the saying which goes like this "I know who you are, and I saw what you did" Nuff said.
Bush speaking on integrity (what a joke) but not getting his PHD. I wonder if UCC made this clear to him when he advised them that because is no longer in the clink, he would be going to Jamaica? He was hoping to be able to say that the degree was evidence of his innocence!
This has the makings of a great comedy routine. I suggest that while Premier Bush recites his speech on Integrity (co-written by M. Ryan, of course) the remainder of the UDP should perform the 'gangnam style' dance in the background. Finish the whole thing off with a big fireworks display (or perhaps dynamite might be more appropriate). Take the show on the road to help finance the premier's travel costs (or legal bills, whichever are greater).
This should have been videotaped for ” Comedy Central “.
Anyone else would have stepped down. Any civil servant, or employee in a private company would have been suspended from duty. The arrogance and defiance is an insult to this country. How can this be permitted?
Minister Anglin is as much an example for our youth, as Mr. Bush is an example of "integrity"! However, in all fairness, there are members of Government who can help guide us. The deputy-premier is an example of how to squander $500,000 of the people's money on paving private individuals' driveways, and back-bencher Seymour can teach us a thing or two about assault and battery. Minister Adam can show us how to ensure animal welfare while operating at an anual loss of millions — and polluting the sea at the same time. Minister Scotland is an example of how to bring a garbage dump to your constituents (in the absence of anything else) and then have the courage to hide from them.
I sincerely hope that Mr. Bush is not flying at the expense of the people of Cayman but I would not be surprised if he was.
According to this official University of the Caribbean web page he is not even giving the commencement address today contrary to what his release indicated:
http://www.ucc.edu.jm/news/12-2012/ucc-chancellor-deliver-fall-2012-commencement-address
Pleez Pleez I come all the way to Jam fa da Docta.
Are you saying that you need to go to the Doctor here?
Do you have any other symptoms besides your knees knocking?
NO! I WANNA BE DA DOCTA!!!
Da peole from West Bay waitin at da airport ta see ma docta degree.
Im sorry but you did not pass the exam.
Pleez Pleez. I wanna be a Docta…
How can someone who is on bail still be allowed to travel?
"Suresh Prasad the MD of that firm who has already been convicted of four counts in the summary court relating to the importation was also re-arrested this week".
Suresh was not convicted. Midland Acres was convicted. The personal charges against Suresh had remained on file.