GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, CMC- The opposition has called on Premier Wayne Panton to remove former premier and speaker McKeeva Bush from his government after he confirmed in a press statement that he had been arrested and formally charged with rape and indecent assault.
“ Mr. Bush has denied the allegations and, like everyone, is entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise in a court of law,” the opposition Progressives said in a statement.
“However, there are facts that we cannot ignore. Mr. Bush is currently facing other serious charges against him involving two females. That case will be going to trial later this year. Also, in December 2020, Mr. Bush pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault on a female,” the opposition said.
Earlier this week, police confirmed that a “senior politician” had been arrested and appeared in court about a criminal complaint of a sexual nature dating back to 2000.
The police statement did not name the “senior politician,” but media reports here named Bush, 68, the territory’s longest-ever serving political figure with service spanning over 35 years, as having appeared in court charged with rape and indecent assault.
But Bush says he has rejected, denied, and pleaded not guilty to what he called “this evil plot” and “malicious accusation.”
In its statement, the Progressives said that in the recent past, it was only after the opposition sought to bring a motion of no confidence against the then-Speaker Bush that Premier Panton was able to convince “Bush and come to an arrangement with him to step down from his role as Speaker.
“It should be noted that the Opposition also stated on April 22, 2023, our surprise that the Premier had appointed Mr. Bush to the Public Accounts Committee,” the statement said.
“We now ask whether Premier Panton intends to continue allowing Mr. Bush to remain as a part of his PACT Government, and sit on the government benches, and also to allow him to continue as a member of the Public Accounts Committee,” the opposition said.
Bush was elected premier following the 2009 general election, but on December 18, 2012, he was ousted as premier in an 11–3 vote of no confidence by the Legislative Assembly.
The West Bay West legislator was charged earlier this year with two offenses relating to an incident at a Caribbean Tourism Organization reception (CTO) dinner held at the Ritz Carlton in September. He pleaded not guilty and is expected to stand trial later this year.
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