The Premier, Hon. Wayne Panton, JP, MP announced this morning that Hon. McKeeva Bush, JP, MP for West Bay West has stepped down as Speaker of Parliament with immediate effect.

The announcement was made after the former Speaker gave a farewell statement on Monday evening as he closed the Second Sitting of the First Meeting of the 2022/23 Session of Parliament.

“Subsequent to his resignation last week, and upon conclusion of the recent meeting of Parliament, Mr. Bush has confirmed by a letter to the Clerk his agreement to bring forward the effective date of his departure from his position as Speaker of Parliament to today, 12 October 2022,” said Premier Panton.

First elected in 1984, Hon. Mr. Bush has served continuously for nearly 40 years in various roles including Minister of Tourism and the first Premier of the Cayman Islands.

“As the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks will assume the role of Acting Speaker immediately until the new Speaker is selected by Members of Parliament as the first order of business at the next meeting of Parliament,” Premier Panton concluded.