Mac expecting to be charged
(CNS): The former Cayman premier said he expected to be charged sometime ahead of the general election in connection with what he claimed were false allegations against him fuelled by a governor who had come to the country to destroy it. McKeeva Bush described some of the allegations against him to a crowd of well over 300 people Thursday night at his first public meeting since his arrest, but vowed he would be exonerated. He said he was accused of theft for books he had bought on the government credit card and dry cleaning bills but skimmed over the matter of a missing $10,000. He also denied being an owner of Midland Acres, the company which imported explosives without the correct paperwork.
In Bush’s first public statements about his arrest and subsequent ousting, he said he had not resigned from the premiership in the wake of his arrest on the advice of his attorneys. He told the audience of supporters that his lawyers had said that it would set a precedent. Had he stepped down at that time, he said, in future whoever the UK did not like they could accuse them of a trumped up crime and get rid of them, even though they were democratically elected.
“I fully expect that I will be charged any time before the elections,” he said. His attorneys have advised him to say nothing further, he added, but he went on to talk about the humiliation of his arrest and the search of his home when nine police officers came to his house at around 7am on Tuesday, 11 December.
He denied that he was arrested because he would not talk to the police when they came, but admitted that, on the advice of his lawyers, he did not answer their questions. He also confirmed that the warrant had been signed by the new judge, Justice Williams, whom the governor “had brought from TCI”.
Bush said the warrant listed books and gifts he had purchased in London on a government credit card that were in his home. He said the books were meant to start a reference library for the office of the premier and the gifts were for staff. However, he also mentioned a missing $10,000, and although he did not elaborate, he said it was being paid back. Bush said less about the memo regarding the importation of explosivesby Midland Acres but denied having ownership of that company.
Re-iterating his belief that the arrest was part of a collusion between Governor Duncan Taylor, the commissioner of police and the opposition, he accused Taylor of coming to the Cayman Islands “to destroy what he could destroy” because of the jealousy for what Caymanians had built up.
He said the governor had seen the position of the opposition and used that to achieve his objective to divide and conquer. Bush accused the UK’s representative of refusing to assist with any project that could have wiped out unemployment and created opportunities. “Everything we put on the table he voted against it,” Bush said, adding that with the opposition’s help the governor had done everything he could to discredit him.
He said the collusion was illustrated by how quickly the international media, as well as the local press, was informed about his arrest. Bush said he believed the whole thing was orchestrated to coincide with his planned trip to Jamaica to receive an honorary doctorate and to engineer his removal from office.
Bush listed some of the historic run-ins Cayman has had with the UK, not least the Euro Bank scandal and the revelations that the British had planted spies in the banking sector.
“This little rock is always at risk with them,” Bush said. “I know my phones are bugged but don’t be fooled, I’m not the only one. These things burn me up when I think how much our ancestors fought and worked so hard. We never got anything from them. They should respect this country and its leadership,” he said, stating that it was hard under the circumstance for Cayman to have respect for its British rulers when they had none for Cayman.
"We have laws here," he said, adding that Cayman did not need more of theirs designed to stop the development of business here because they want it there.
He also called on the governor to answer the question of whether the police in the UK would arrest a sitting prime minister on the same trumped up allegations as had been made against him when he had been taken into custody.
Bush also turned his attention on what is now the ‘former UDP 5’ and described the new government as a “sham cabinet which won’t make the lame walk”. The former premier said the government was now unconstitutional as it was in a minority and he would be pursuing that issue as they could not be allowed to “bastardise the constitution” in this way.
Speaking about the process that led to his ousting, he said that in the past he had not criticised them but suggested that Rolston Anglin, in particular, had also been one of those stopping him from doing some things. He also criticised the education minister for comparing his DUI conviction with Bush's own situation and said that they had tried to run him down at Wednesday’s press briefing with innuendo. Bush added that he had created, nurtured and enabled the political careers of the five people who were now sitting in Cabinet.
The former premier made it clear that he may be down but he was far from out, although he said he had not yet made a decision on whether he would or would not run for office at the next election. Bush told the party faithful who had come out to support him that he intended to pray about it but he didn’t really feel like running.
Category: Politics
Did he declare all these items for the purposes of duty?
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me a hundred times, I'm a Bushit.
UDP, PPM, INDEPENTS and the cayman islands alike I am wishing you all a merry christmas and the best and safe new year ever. THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR FOR LOVE AND RESPECT FOR ONE AND ALL BUT ALL I SEE I HATE AND BETTERNESS. God is the reason for the season not Juju Ellio Adlen Arden Ezzard Mike Rolston Eugene Kurt Mabery Cline Mark Dwyne Anthony and Mac.
Dear Father God,
Happy Birthday and thanks for allowing me to live and year. But Fatheri pray today that you may heal the hurt and the backstapping and non factual talks that go around and make you people see that this csnt be good for this island and thier people, i ask these things in your Holly name.
signed
Your Loving Child
Chanze Dawson
Dear God, please help our educational system.
I hope his travel documents have been detained also. That will save us a few thousand more…..
if foolio gets re-elected…i'm leaving cayman.
No need to pack.
If he gets re-elected, then the Mayan Apocalypse has indeed occurred after. I can only picture him as a televangelist, raising good money for the dark side
Foolio days are numbered. He may be on the GT board for UDP but not as an elected member. GT is not WB. Mike might make it but Foolio has a hope in hell. Not even aure what he can do outside of politics now that Big Mac has lost his stroke. Wonder if he van cook or drive? Mac might need a new cook or driver at a reduced rate.
It would have been more impressive if it was at least a thousand people. Only 300 diehards after all these years!
300? But the Jordanian said on TalkToday on Friday that there was over 3000 people at that meeting and they all loved Mac & Foolio!
What an imbecile. I guess he never heard that when you discover that you're standing in quicksand, the last thing you should do is squirm around! XXXX
He knows the truth and knows what to expect. He just wants to say he's a PROPHET! When you haven't done anything wrong, do like Arden did and clear your name. He didn't expect to be charged, did he? Different set of circumstances here though I suspect and he is looking sympathy. Politicians should be held to a higher standand is my opinion.
Mac expects to be charged – thats why he is trying to influence as much of the jury pool to his side before he is even charged. Ellio's tirade against the police, means he is obviously assisting Mac to circumvent the investigation, which in itself amounts to a crime and corruption offences.
What Mac did in Jamaica and what he continues to do in Cayman is not only a blatant attempt to impede the investigation and trial if one comes, but also to intimidate the British and those investigating him.
The only way any future trial would be unbiased is if it is moved to another jurisdiction – say England for example…
He mentioned a missing $10,000…………but said it was being paid back…..ummm. That says enough for me.
Gang of 5 had accelerated Chess lessons during last few months under Bush's nose! Bush never felt anything is wrong with his guys until last Sunday.
"He also denied being an owner of Midland Acres, the company which imported explosives without the correct paperwork."
On the collapse of First Cayman National Bank, (where many locals lost their savings, a week after the Government assured people that their accounts were safe) McKeeva famously deniad being a director, and to threaten those so saying of a lawsuit. Shortly thereafter his own lawyer publicaly dropped the case (on TV) on the basis that he had written evidence that McKeeva had declared his Directorship in the official Register of Interests.
Regarding the explosives case, in case you think this is a non-issue, just a paperwork glitch, I suggest that you consider my earlier posting, reproduced below:
According to court records, one of the imported substances was an emulsion containing Ammonium Nitrate and Petroleum Distillates weighing 25 tons.
Ammonium nitrate can be induced to decompose explosively by detonation. Large stockpiles may also detonate, as happened in theTexas City Disaster of 1947. This, the deadliest industrial accident in US history, killed nearly 600 people.
The Oklahoma City terrorist attack was carried out using essentially an Ammonium Nitrate bomb. It contained approximately 2.5 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, nitromethane, and a diesel fuel (petroleum) mixture. The shipment that our Premier tried to facilitate was therefore potentially enough material to construct ten bombs of the size used in Oklahoma City.
I do hope that these 25 tons (Ten Oklahoma bombs) of highly dangerous explosives have been exported from Cayman, but I don't know that to be the case. Perhaps they are still stored in a customs shed in Industrial Park?
Truthseeker
Sorry, just FCB, not National!
His skills of deduction never cease to amaze me…
If McKeeva really believes this, then why isnt he calling outright for independence. It is hypocritical for him to say this about the Birtish and not be completely on the independence bandwagon. Of course saying he in favor of independence is politicalsuicide and if there is one thing about Mac he wont ever let principle stand in front of his own political gain.
It seems like the Brits are going a Capone-ing here, a Capone-ing there. Wery wery clever.
Research suggests that the best liars are those who can rearrange the truth in their own minds, so that when they lie, it's all the more convincing, as they really believe what they're saying. Many politicians are natural masters of this distortion.
There's an old Aussie joke involving a film director entering the country. Immigration asked him, "do you have a criminal record". He responded by saying, "no officer, I'm sorry, but I didn't know it was a requirement".
I never realized that criminal activities, real or alleged, were 'de rigeur' when entering political life in Cayman, which is why the joke seems to fall so flat here.
Did he say how many picture books he purchased for the reference library?
What a hard man fe dead !
if fe lick em down, he bounces right back up…. what a goddamn hard monster fe dead!
Bush says: "…that he had created… the political careers of the five people who were now sitting in Cabinet." Really now?
Bush is a damn liar if he is saying that he "created" Julianna's political career. This man will lie when the truth would do. She lowered herself when she became involved with Bush. Ms. Julianna's affliliation with this XXXX has actually hindered her from gaining more popularity and votes on Cayman Brac.
Brackers put her in office and have kept her there without any "nurturing" or "enabling" from Bush.
What a blow you picked up bobo!
All the educated ones left you & the smartest one you have is the college drop out folio lol!
Caymanian
Thats True.. Foolio is the smartest out of the Dumb Ones
I believe it was planned by the Governor to have him arrested at this time. It was all planned. These things just don't happen by accident.
And your point is???
You're right that people don't get arrested by accident.
so what were the books and gifts doing in his home and not the actually office of the Premier? this man is his own distruction, he needs to know when to shut-up. If his lawyer is Mcfield, well good luck with that!!!!
post 1248
If you had any common sense you would HAVE KNOWN that when Bush was primer that was and offical government residents at the time, Government pays all bills and such for that location so that made it offical and thats the office was a government officall office of the primer. Thats whats wrong with unna now dont have facts or common sense but yet want talk crap unna dont have clue about.
Not everyone in the audience where supporters of him or the trash talk from foolio!
Wow! A public meeting held by publicly elected officials for the purpose of discussing themselves. Another fine example of why party politics is wrong for Cayman.
You can't be charged without sufficient evidence…
Game set match
Aha!
$10,000 being paid back?
Is Joey teaching him how to do that?
Personally I blame the scapegoat.
Yuh pick him up, yuh lick him down, him bounce right back…what a hard man fi dead! He's got more lives than a cat. "Meow"
Mr.Bush certainly never fails to astound. His compaint about having “created, nurtured and enabled” the political careers of those whom he appears to feel betrayed by is surely a classic case of cronyism. And what is this stuff about buying gifts for his staff? Surely it is not allowable for him to do so on the public purse? The ten grand that is being “paid back” – excuse me, what is that also all about? One thing’s for sure, it’ll all be revealed at his trial.
It was a nice song though 🙂
I was there and I'm not a Bush suporter, but when her burst into song he almost brought me to tears. Boy is he talented. That man can jerk the heart strings, wish he understond what is going on.
I am seriously concerned that Mac is not blaming the PPM nearly enough these days. Come on Alden, tell us what you have on him. Or maybe he's practicing his respect for our next Government?
This is the Christmas season please let peace and goodwill prevail, we don't need any strife and division in the country. Please Caymanians put this behind us and let us move forward in rebuilding our relationships. Let there be peace on earth and I wish everyone a blessed and happy holidays.
I agree!
What concerns me alot is taxpayers having to pay for Bush's investigations, and the probability that the Governor and Police arrested this man who they will charge, but may get off scot free. For when have you seen UK investigators win any high profile case regarding corruption in our politics??? No they have lost every case: Rudy Dixon, Judge Henderson didnt even reach to a charge, Operation Tempura was a failure, et cetera. I just hope they didn't arrest the ex-Premier with no case, because if they did that , then that will just strengthen his stance that it was orchestrated to further destroy Cayman's industry.
Well, you only have to look at Turks and Caicos for your answer, there were a lot of GENUINE ARRESTS there that did stick, and people have been sentenced for many misdeed and illegal actions. I don't for a minute believe the RCIPS would have risked arresting the Premier of a leading financial services jurisdiction,on any whim or desire to just destroy Cayman's industry, while the whole world is watching. There must be some real reasons for the arrest, because this is indeed a very serious move by the RCIPS and I do not believe they would have taken it without there being some solid basis for it.
they have done so before……dah Rudy Henderson or did u forget
That is the UDP rhetoric. Once people got the idea that Operation Tempura was unfairly targeting Caymanians it was not going to convict no matter if a mountain of evidence was brought to support a conviction. That is what McKeeva is trying to achieve here.
Thank goodness it wasn't the PPM again.
Macs lawyers need to advise their client to just STFU.
Good grief.
On behalf of the Cayman Islands, we apologise, Governor Taylor. And we are truly and sorely embarrassed.
Can tell your hatred for the Peoples' Premier has blidned you so badly that you thank the Governor for bringing down our Caymanian Premier for whatever reason he and the FCO have that they will not tell the stupid Caymanian people about?
Mac not going away though becaue he come her by pain the others come by plane and we have seen many of them come, go and be forgotten.
Get your head out, my friend. If you have one.
He certainly came here by pain, a huge pain in the butt, if you ask me.
What about those of us who did not come by pain nor plane ? But by boat just like his ancestors ? Common Man ! He brought it all on himself using his people and the Cayman islands with his Arrogance and used his office of the premier by refusing to step aside until matters are settled. No instead it had to come this and a good man was removed from his office at which he excelled. Good Luck John John ’cause you gonna need it ! Caymanian 2.
Mac does not feel like running and he is praying about it?
I am on Mac's side with this one, and I will pray too that he is not able to run – either in the election or from the police…
and knot so smart is back… boom!
"Bush…said he had not resigned from the premiership in the wake of his arrest on the advice of his attorneys. He told the audience of supporters that his lawyers had said that it would set a precedent".
What nonsense. It is the norm for elected officials to resign from public office following arrest for serious criminal offences, and of course there is Bush's own precedent of resigning in 1997 when he had not even been arrested. His attorneys would be well aware that resigning does not necessarily carry any implications for his guilt or innocence. As usual, Bush is just looking for someone else to blame for his own shortcomings.
On the one man he says that his lawyers had told him not to speak about the case but here he is speaking about (some of) the credit issues it no doubt in an attempt to minimise the matter.
“I fully expect that I will be charged any time before the elections”.
Whywould an innocent man fully expect to be charged? It seems Bush is preparing us for what he knows must happen.
All of the anti-UK diatribe was expected. Most people will realise that this is an attempt to manipulate them.
He still does not seem to comprehend that this not a mere issue of personal loyalty but that the MLAs were obliged to act in the best interests of the country. Bush is the ultimate narcissist.
This indeed is a sad time in the history of these islands and so close to the holiday season. I don't feel the joy of Christmas when so many people are unhappy and hurting. We should take no pleasure in seeing each other hurt. I pray that the Government and all members of the LA would come together and pray for the healing of this country. We don't need to hurt and tear down this country any further.
That's right Mr. Bush, pray your backside off. That might help you yet.
CNS: "He said the governor had seen the position of the opposition and used that to achieve his objective to divide and conquer. Bush accused the UK’s representative of refusing to assist with any project that could have wiped out unemployment and created opportunities. 'Everything we put on the table he voted against it,' Bush said, adding that with the opposition’s help the governor had done everything he could to discredit him." – This could NOT BE FALSE! I have no real evidence to back his claims that the Governor's plan was to create more economic instability in the Cayman Islands, despite the FCO's claims that they is for good governance and stability. One thing is for sure, excuse my CAPS – EVERYTHING OR PROJECT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP FROM DAY ONE, WAS CRITICIZED BY OPPOSITION, CAMPAIGNED AGAINST BY MARCHING PEOPLE ON THE STREETS; EVERYTHING UDP DID TO PROMPLY BOOST CAYMAN'S ECONOMY WAS PUT DOWN AND ALL LIKE EZZARD AND ALDEN DEMONSTATED AGAINST IT! Thumbs me down all you want, but these are the facts. We could have had alot of projects, job creations, and construction sites up and running by now.
Numb skull all of his projects were very questionable to say the least. If MLA Bush (yes he is just an MLA) had followed procedure we would not be in such a bad postion that we find ourselves. All the failures were MLA Bush fault no one else, why can"t you get that through your thick skull?
The UDP are just like concrete, they are all mixed up and are permanently set.
You are wrong. I don't think all of this is McKeeva's fault. The Opposition has been bashing the ForCayman Alliance, Mr. Dart and UDP members for a long time. You may be right that he wasn't following process and proper procedures, but come on… four years and everything that was suggested shot down by Opposition? Where was the support from Opposition to have something done for these islands? Now they want your vote in May to merely take on the credit of what UDP started. Politricks at its best and Caymanians are getting sick and tired of it. I hope none of the MLAs get reelected ever again.
Dead wrong. The Opposition supported the port project, and it was your favourite person Bush who pulled the plug on the developer who was about to start it – yeah, that's right, your Bush. He was the one who pulled it, set the country back 2 years, and gave it to the Chinese who still can't get nothing started. The Opposition and even the Independents supported the SHetty Hospital too. The only projects not supported by them, were the highly questionable deals struck by your Bush behind closed, secret doors without the knowledge of the rest of his own party nor even the people who elected him to serve. Stop drinking the Whodatis coolaid of conspiracy theory, and get your head out of …. ass.
They also supported the Shetty Hospital and Cayman Enterprise City. Provided the projects are above board there was nothing the Opposition could do to stop the UDP projects since the UDP held 9 of the 15 votes in the L.A. The UDP is even trying to shift its own failures on to the PPM.
Here it is simply…follow the rules and procedures!!
No matter how good these projects were you need to follow procedures that are set down. This man was not prime minister in an independent country. He was premier in a UK territory and the UK not going to allow a TCI number 2.
Follow rules!!!
Bottom line?
If convicted and sent to prison, does he lose his titles, his benefits and his pension(s)?
Nothing is quite so befitting a convicted felon as to be called "The Honourable . . . " and continue to live off the taxpayers. Most countries revoke any titles and benefits previously conferred upon an elected official.
Ask Frank McField.