MCKEEVA BUSH PREPARES EARLY FOR UPCOMING ELECTIONS

MCKEEVA BUSH PREPARES EARLY FOR UPCOMING ELECTIONS

By the time of the next general election, Cayman could very well have a new political party contesting the polls - that’s if new plans outlined by veteran parliamentarian McKeeva Bush come to fruition.

Mr Bush has unveiled a new non-profit community organisation he has called the Organisation for a Better Cayman Islands(OBC) to scout and screen candidates for the next election due by April 2025.

He presently serves as Parliamentary Secretary to ministers Dwayne Seymour and Jay Ebanks in the United Democratic Movement(UDM) government led by Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.

While he credits the administration with some policy successes, Mr Bush made it clear that there are areas that he has misgivings about in the independents-led coalition government.

“There are good things happening,” he declared but indicated that there are areas of concern.

“There should be collective responsibility but yet people want to opt out of certain things,” he stated.

OBC OBJECTIVES

The former Premier and Speaker of Parliament admitted that while his OBC is still in its formative stages, the goal is to ultimately create a political party.

Mr Bush, the long-standing MP for West Bay and a 40 parliamentary veteran in Cayman(currently the longest serving MP), confirmed that he will be running again in the next election but does not intend to lead the party expected to be formed out of the OBC.

“Whether elected or not I am going to work with this organisation to fulfil its objectives,” he affirmed.

The main features of the OBC are listed as “a non-profit organization focusing on community development, governance issues, environmental protection, wellness and health public education, sports, and culture development; and the ability to field candidates in a General Election.”

Politically, it already clear that that several national issues are up for priority attention including immigration, cost of living and the wider economy alongside tourism, healthcare and the civil service.

POLICY PRIORITIES

In a departure from the current policy position of the UDM government of which he is a member, Mr Bush has stressed his displeasure with the policy of a government referendum on whether Cayman should have a cruise pier. He confirmed that should his planned political party gain power he will proceed with building a new cruise pier regardless of what the referendum says.

Mr Bush has always considered such a facility necessary for Cayman’s cruise tourism sector despite the controversy surrounding the concept, especially on environmental grounds.

He also feels the much-debated proposed East-West arterial road has become bogged down in bureaucracy and costly consultancies.

Another area of concern for him linked to this and other policy issues is the huge amounts spent on imported experts instead of adequately utilising Caymanian expertise.

Immigration is another priority concern. Mr Bush is of the view that as a developing economy Cayman needs a clearer managed migration strategy. “Integrate or evacuate,” was his unequivocal ultimatum while at the same time pointing out that Cayman “must embrace wealth or reap poverty.”

He referred to Cayman growing from a population of around 20,000 in 1984 when he was first elected to around 89,000 presently which he felt brings both its challenges and opportunities.

On the impact on the local cost of living from global developments, Mr Bush cautioned: “People are hurting. It’s getting dangerous out there.”

On the outlook of the role of OBC in influencing the politics of the Cayman Islands with a new party, the organisation’s founder said they are on the look out for “good people with good ideas”.

He did not rule out embracing members of the current UDM administration.

Mr Bush strongly feels that unlike a party structure, independents with their individual priorities cannot collectively and effectively manage the affairs of a modern Cayman.