The Premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush (57), was arrested and detained by the Royal Cayman Island Police Service (RCIPS) on Tuesday (11) morning in connection with a number of ongoing police investigations.

Officers from the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit arrested Mr. Bush at around 7.00 am this morning (Tuesday 11 December 2012) at his home in West Bay.

Mr. Bush has been arrested on suspicion of

• Theft, in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a Government credit card, and

• Breach of trust, Abuse of office and Conflict of interest, contrary to S13, S17 and S19 of the Anti-Corruption Law 2008 respectively, in connection with the alleged importation of explosive substances without valid permits on or before February 2012.

The RCIPS said it would be inappropriate for them to make any further comment in relation to these matters at this time. Further updates will be made available in due course, they added.

The RCIPS issued a further statement at 5:08pm that said:

“The RCIPS can confirm that Premier McKeeva Bush has been released from custody following a series of interviews. Mr. Bush has been placed on overnight police bail and will return to face further questioning tomorrow morning (Wednesday, 12 December 2012).”

Then at 6:19pm another statement came from the RCIPS and updated at 7:42pm:

“Corruption investigation – Another arrest made

“A second man has been arrested and is detained in police custody in connection with the ongoing investigation which involves the Premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush.

“The local man was arrested at his home address in George Town earlier today in connection with the importation of explosive substances without valid permits on or before February 2012.  The man has been arrested on suspicion of Breach of trust, Abuse of office and Conflict of interest (contrary to Sections 13, 17 and 19 of the Anti-Corruption Law 2008 respectively) and inciting a breach of the corruption law.

“The man was released from custody following an interview. He has been placed on overnight police bail and will return to face further questioning tomorrow (12).

End

At 11:30AM the United Democratic Party (UDP) on Tuesday 11th issued a Statement confirming they had been informed of the Premier’s arrest and were in Caucus. The Statement was then, surprisingly, withdrawn two minutes later.

However, a similar statement was read out on television by Deputy Premier, Hon. Julianna O’Connor-Connolly on the government’s own CIGTV Cable Station later during the day. iNews Cayman received no communication that we could release the Statement adding to the confusion.

You can now see this statement, as we received it, in the release issued by Leonard Dilbert the premier’s Chief of Staff.

In a brief phone exchange between Mr. Dilbert and the Washington Post earlier in the day, Dilbert said Premier Bush will continue working as the three-island territory’s leader amid the ongoing police probes.

“There have been no charges,” Dilbert added.

Police were seen throughout the day at Mr. Bush’s house and office where we understand they were executing searches.

Premier Bush is due in Jamaica in a few days time to collect an honourary degree from a Jamaican University but we do not know if this will be cancelled or postponed.

Although both Independent MLA’s Arden McLean from East End and Ezzard Miller from North Side have called for the resignation of Mr. Bush, the Leader of the Opposition, Alden McLaughlin, has not done so.

In his statement he said, “I am confident that the law will take its course and we must give the authorities the opportunity to complete their work unimpeded. This is indeed a period of uncertainty for our country but we must remain calm and trust in the system and the Rule of Law.  It is designed to deal with and ultimately resolve matters such as this.

“The arrest of the Premier is a hugely damaging body blow to the reputation of these islands and to confidence in our government.  It will do immense harm to our credibility as an international business centre and a place to work and do business.

“The social and economic interests of these Islands depend on Mr. Bush’s colleagues in the Cabinet and on the Government Backbench acting swiftly and resolutely in this matter to return normalcy to the operations of Government and to prevent the further hemorrhaging of the country’s image and reputation.

“Accepted international best practice and the conventions of the Westminster system of government provide clear guidance as to the course of action that ought now to be followed by Mr. Bush and his Cabinet and supporting backbench MLAs.”

The Independent Group called Coalition For Cayman also called for the premier to resign saying, “We must always be careful not to prejudge anyone and allow the due process of the judicial system to run its course. However, as a nation we must be clear that we will not tolerate corruption in any form, and we feel it is in the best interest of our Country that Premier Bush step down from office immediately as the judicial process runs its course.”