Bush postpones30 year anniversary bash
(CNS): The opposition leader, who is marking 30 years in Cayman politics this month, has postponed a public party at Pedro Castle, planned for this Friday, due to his wife’s ill-health. McKeeva Bush, who has had his fair share of trials and tribulations during his political career, has kept a low profile since he was acquitted of corruption charges by a jury after a month long trial in September and October. His wife was taken ill shortly after the trial and the couple are understood to have been in the US as a result. The celebration marking three decades as a West Bay representative for the leader of the UDP, now renamed Cayman Democratic Party, will now take place at Tiki Beach on Boxing Day.
“On behalf of the Cayman Islands Democratic Party (CDP) and myself, we would like to advise the public of a date and event change of the 30 years of Service Celebration in my honour, which was to be held on Friday, 28th November at Pedro Castle,” he said in a statement. “As Ihave been off island with my wife attending to medical issues, we have had to postpone the event to Friday, December 26th at Tiki Beach. This is an event that will be open to the public and I look forward to celebrating with you all,” he added.
After a long career in the Legislative Assembly that has seen Bush serve as a back-bencher, a minister of a number of different portfolios, leader of government business, the country’s first premier and now, for the second time, the opposition leader, the recent trial has overshadowed the political veteran’s milestone.
Although Bush cleared his name regarding the allegations of abuse of office, the courtroom drama revealed the extent to which Bush was gambling on slot machines during his time as the country’s leader at the beginning of the last UDP administration. Although his enjoyment of gambling had been the subject of public speculation for many years, the trial confirmed how much time and money Bush was spending on slot machines while he was leader of government business and then premier.
During the ten month period between July 2009 to April 2010 when Bush was accused of abusing his office because he had used a government credit card, along with several of his own, to draw cash in casinos, the court heard he had spent around $430,000 gambling and lost over $260,000 during that time period. The evidence revealed that Bush had been gambling at the machines for hours on end while on business trips as well as when on leave.
Although Bush was acquitted when he was able to demonstrate that there was no laws or regulations at the time preventing him from using his government credit card to take cash advances from anywhere, including casinos, it remains to be seen how much the revelations over the gambling have damaged his future political prospects.
After the UDP’s defeat in the 2013 election, which owed much to the party’s split as a result of Bush’s arrest, the opposition leader has renamed his party the Cayman Democratic Party.
Bush had stated after the trial that he would be hosting political public meetings but his wife’s ill health has prevented Bush from returning to the political hustings.
During his trial Bush was able to demonstrate that the FCO, and in particular former governor Duncan Taylor, seemed keen to see Bush’s political demise. When he was acquitted, the opposition leader indicated that Geoffrey Cox QC, his leading defence attorney, would be raising the issue in the corridors of power in Westminster.
A Conservative backbench MP in the UK parliament, Cox has not yet raised the issue in the House of Commons or made any public statements regarding the correspondence between Taylor, the FCO and the police commissioner.
Emails sent by Taylor indicated that he was directly involved in the numerous corruption investigations regarding Bush. It was also clear that the governor was hoping that at the very least the credit card charges would stick and oust him from office and ensure that the UDP leader would be fighting an election while facing what were originally charges of theft, making his re-election as the country's leader less likely.
Category: Politics
He's been on the government payroll for 30 years and he can afford to lose half a million playing slot machines? Either the government is paying him too well or he's got a few side projects going on!
I'd celebrate too! If I'd been able to pull off doing so little work for so long for so much money. While collecting a pension. Proves you don't need any skills. Or an education just a good rap. Bluster, B.S. and the ability to make promises.
Lot of parties got cancelled when Bush walked away a free man when he should have gone to prison. Celebrating the Pirate code is still a cultural deficiency here. Easy to see by the thumbs what most people think of this. Also easy to see that many voters are still not up to being responsible citizens. Maybe someday but not soon come.
Will the invisible bodyguards be there?
she got another assn as usual. his other well keptsecret.!!
They cannot keep a good man down, who Jah bless no man curse, Goliath and his supporters upset at this moment and will try to bring down WMB again, 2017 will see Mr Bush as Cayman ‘s democratically elected leader. The conquering lion shall break every chain and give us the victory again and again.
I have a dream 09.57…it does not involve WMB.
I think he should give up here and go become President of Caesars or something. Hell, he spent enough of our money there, he must have shares by now.
He certainly has the Jamaican vote all sewn up.
Out of money, one people…….
What odds are they offering in the casinos?
and West Bay past the Four Way stop and new Dart extensions is still the Cayman Islands most famous ghetto like district. It's as if no Money ever went into the District over all of those years.
Oh wait, that's right, the money is inside the houses. And just when I was going to feel sorry for them West Bayers.
Have you been to EastEnd? Further, do you SEE the STATE of our CAPITAL, G.T?
Please stop the Bullshit.
The money actually is in slot machines abroad…..shame on you MacKeeva.
I wish your wife a speedy recovery, Sir and congratulations on hitting 30 years, I may dislike your governing style, but you and your wife will be in my prayers. Come on people let us not pick holes in a man at his most vulnerable.
Get over it! Please! Mr Mac will answer to his God and his family and maybe have already done so. Stop hitting on someone who may already have corrected/amended his failings. What the hell is yours? Wife Swapping, Porn, Adultery, Stealing or Covetuosness? Look at yourself and try to correct your failings/short comings – Holier than Thou! I am waitning to see you at the table of Perfect Morales and Saints of God.
14:19, when he is representing the Country, he answers to US, not his family and some pie in the sky.
And clearly he has a severe gambling addicion that cannot be cured by saying "I am sorry", he needs treatment for the rest of his life.
How about apologising to the Country for a start.
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That's what WE Caymanians are known for; knocking each other down. Just like when his daughter died, NO-ONE was there.
We are a hypocritical nation, but hey….lets just keep popping the bottles and pretend we are fabulous. SMH.
I would like to make this short and sweet!! First, let me just extend my sympathy to his wife, surely no one wants to be in a hospital and with that sort of injury at her age. However, I am sure the church is praying for him and her, as they did, when he was on trial for abusing the government money to gamble!!! I could not believe that a church was praying for the outcome to be in his favor, isn't it the curches fighting against legalizing gambling on these Islands? Just goes to show that money is the root of all evil!!! He made a huge contribution to the church, so they are sticking to pray for him. Just remember that Jesus (Jah), was very angry that people were making his Father's house, into a house of thieves!! Don't blow your own trumpet as self praise is not worth anything. Please, Mr. Bush, come clean and apologize to the Cayman Islands for your immature behaviour, then we will celebrate with you as finally being a man!!!
There will never be anything to celebrate. The man is a disgrace and I for one am ashamed to call him Caymanian.
Let's be very clear that the millions in "contributions to the church" were orchestrated from a multimillion slush account of public funds that he improperly cleaved out for his purposes – not his money. Concurrently, someone making a couple hundred grand a year, parties and wagers close to half a million in under two months. Strange behavior for any man mourning the untimely loss of a daughter.
The man cannot be shamed!
Try harder: 30 years of material!
Do we get comp benefits for attendance?
Thirty years? Why does it feel like it's been a lifetime? Retire and save all our nerves…
Marking the end of a 30 year error.
Big Mac planning to party yet people still have no work.
He will feed those that are hungry. Good man.
260k could have helped a lot of people in poverty.
What worries me most are the people that support such an egocentric human.
Congratulations mr. Bush on 30 years of mismanaging the public purse. We are forever indebted to you why Caymanians cannot find work and has become a second class citizen in their own country!!Well done!!
whos going to pay for the party?
Well the people of course.
Why complain re abuses of public funds?
If you're not happy about it, get them to implement new controls on the money and how it's spent.
He should apologise not celebrate.
Hopefully he will apologise and then announce his retirement at his party, now there is something to celebrate.
Get over the Mac case for a while and look at yourself for a moment; just be assured that the Law Suits are piling up. Mr. Bush may have already made peace with his family and his God regarding his gambling habit. The big question is, what is/are your immoral habits Holier than Thou? Porn, Wife Swapping, Drunkenness, Adultery, Unauthorized Leaking of Reports, etc. There may just be a greater need for you to get over your immoral habit(s) than Mr. Bush – Twit!! I am waiting to see you at the Table of Perfect Morals……………..Pretender!
oooh you've added a few things. I still want to know where I can commit adultery, get drunk, swap my husband, etc? I don't have any reports to leak, sorry
Well… I did not get my invite…
There must be a conspiracy holding up the invitations…
Put it on the card.
Which card will he use?
You can do all the renaming you like, its still the same old party, headed up by a shrewd and untrustworthy political agenda. Same old, same old. Please give us some credit and respect. You are a has been, who just may make in back into office on the backs of the ignorant.
Surely there aren't that many Caymanians THAT ignorant!
Other nationalities
If you admit he still has a good chance of being voted back in, you can hardly call him a has-been!
I just did so yes I can.
30 years of mismanagement. Yippee lets celebrate.
11:32 – "He that has eyes, let him see." I am 100% certain that his service is NOT "30 yrs of mismanagement" – Twit! Just get over the Max case and clear you boxed in mind of hatred and biasness. Evidence of his accomplishments are out there for anyone to see except the Mac Haters like you!
Who cares? I certainly wasn't going to attend.
Excuse me, but were you invited Sherlock?
30 years of gambling with public funds, thats not against the law
People that actively plan expensive parties in honour and celebration of themselves are almost universally unworthy of my honour or praise. Although certainly not illegal, the indulgent self-idolatry is a disgusting and consistant personality defect that we have all witnessed for these 30 years. Pastors and Parishes should refer to the Second Commandment for more information.
Amen, brother!
When considering the eternally honourable Grand Pumba of the West, one must refer to the West Bay Commandments.
#3 – Thou shalt have no other MLA before me.