Confusion reigns over the
position of Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush’s political position following
his arrest last week on corruption charges.
Following several days of almost
complete silence from his party, the UDP, it was reported that over the weekend
the party (with the exception of Ellio Solomon who publicly backed Bush’s
decision to remain in office whilst the allegations are investigated) had
decided to oust McKeeva Bush from office and replace him with Juliana O’Connor. However, it seems that the position is not
yet a fait accompli as although a
letter was delivered to Bush asking him to step down, he has made it clear that
he will not go voluntarily and no action has yet been taken to force this to
happen. Politicians who are brave and make bold statements behind closed doors
seem more reluctant to do so in public. The Governor’s office has said that it
has not yet received any communication on the issue.
The opposition leader wrote to
the speaker on Friday asking her to call a special meeting of the Legislative
Assembly to debate the situation with a no confidence motion. In view of the position taken by the UDP over
the weekend, it is impossible to see that McKeeva Bush could count on the
support of his erstwhile political colleagues to support him. As a result, it
is difficult to see how Cayman can in practice avoid an early general election.
Bush, who retains a fair degree
of popular support in the Island, did not release any statement on the
situation yesterday although he is understood to feel angered and let down by
the actions of some of his colleagues in failing to support him.
The current uncertainty is not
good for Cayman. The government is
effectively paralysed whilst this situation unfolds – an invidious position to
be in whilst there is so much going on which needs to be very carefully handled
– such as the Island’s relation with the UK and the new proposed “mini-FATCA”
negotiations.
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