| The Honourable McKeeva Bush OBE |
|
|---|---|
| Premier of the Cayman Islands | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 27 May 2009 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Stuart Jack Donovan Ebanks (Acting) Duncan Taylor |
| Preceded by | Kurt Tibbetts |
| In office 8 November 2001 – 18 May 2005 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Peter Smith James Ryan (Acting) Bruce Dinwiddy |
| Preceded by | Kurt Tibbetts |
| Succeeded by | Kurt Tibbetts |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 January 1955 West Bay, Cayman Islands |
| Political party | United Democratic Party |
William McKeeva Bush, OBE (born 20 January 1955[1]), is a Caymanian politician and the current Premier of the Cayman Islands. He also serves as leader of the United Democratic Party and the first elected member for West Bay. He is currently serving his seventh term in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands and has represented West Bay in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands continuously since 1984.
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Bush was educated in the Cayman Islands Government primary and secondary school system and was awarded an honourary master’s degree in humanities from the International College of the Cayman Islands.
Bush was elected Premier during the Cayman Islands general election in 2009, and in addition to assuming the post of Premier, he also currently' serves as Minister of Finance, Tourism & Development for the current United Democratic Party administration. Following the Cayman Islands general election 2005, Bush served as the Leader of the Opposition from May 2005 to May 2009.
Bush is currently the longest serving member of the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands and is referred to as the "Father of the House". Bush has served on previous Executive Councils (renamed Cabinet in 2003) and served as the Leader of Government Business and Minister of Tourism, Environment, Development and Commerce from November 2001 – May 2005 during the United Democratic Party administration. He has also served as Minister for Tourism, Environment and Transport from November 2000 – November 2001, Minister of Community Development, Sports, Women's and Youth Affairs and Culture from 1994 – 1997 and Minister for Health and Human Services from 1992 – 1994.
Bush is also a Justice of the peace and was a founding member of the United Democratic Party.
In late 2010 the Cayman Islands police opened an investigation into Bush relating to certain alleged financial irregularities dating back to October 2004, and that investigation remains ongoing.[2] The Governor of the Cayman Islands, Duncan Taylor, has declined to appoint a commission of enquiry whilst the police investigation is ongoing.[3]
He is married to Kerry Bush and they have two children; son Barry and daughter Tonya, who died from diabetes complications on 25 January 2011.
Bush is a director and shareholder of the Cambridge Real Estate Company.
Queen Elizabeth II named him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1997 for his work in the Cayman Islands community and success in the Cayman Islands Government.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kurt Tibbetts |
Premier of the Cayman Islands 2001–2005 |
Succeeded by Kurt Tibbetts |
| Premier of the Cayman Islands 2009–present |
Incumbent | |
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