Hon. Dr. W. McKeeva Bush, JP, MP
Speaker of the House (May 2017 – 2022)
Leader of the Opposition - May 2013- May 2017
Member of Parliament (MP)
Premier – Cayman Islands First Premier & Minister of Finance, Tourism and Development (2009 – 2012)
Leader of the Opposition (2005 – 2009)
First Constitutional Leader of Government Business (2003 – 2005)
West Bay West
McKeeva Bush has represented the district of West Bay in the Legislative Assembly continuously since 1984. He is the longest serving member and is the “Father of the House”.
Mr. Bush has served on Executive Councils (renamed Cabinet in 2003) as the Member (Minister) for Health and Human Services, 1992-94, Minister for Community Development, Sports, Women’s and Youth Affairs and Culture, 1994-97, Minister for Tourism, Environment and Transport, 2000-2001, and as Leader of Government Business and Minister for Tourism, Environment, Development and Commerce, 2001-2005.
In November 2001 he was a founding member and leader of the United Democratic Party.
For the past twenty-eight (28) years he has served the Cayman Islands as a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Mr. Bush has served as the Vice President and Chairman of the Cayman Islands CPA. He has also served as a Regional Representative on the International Executive Committee of the CPA. Young Caymanians have also benefited from his guidance of the CPA, in the formation of the Youth Parliament. He has represented the CPA and the Cayman Islands in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Canada, Cyprus, Malta, the UK, the USA, the Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, B.V.I. and Barbados.
A self-employed businessman (realtor), he is married to Kerry Yvonne Bush, and the couple have two children (1 deceased) and three grandchildren.
The annual Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference (CWP) marked the launch of the 45th Annual General Meeting, with the Deputy Premier, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP, MP, and the Speaker, Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, MP, representing the Cayman Islands. Sessions included discussions on the critical role of women in democratic governance, youth crime, the CWP constitution, and roundtable discussions on the experiences of current female parliamentarians.
“The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference sparked a number of innovative ideas for how I can empower women in my community for the next women’s month” said the Speaker. “More women should be encouraged to enter into leadership roles in politics, so I intend to give women an opportunity to learn how to debate by spending the day at Parliament with myself and other female politicians.”
Following the CWP sessions, delegates held sessions on biodiversity and food security preparedness, adapting to climate change, preparing for national disasters, promoting democracy, crime and security, banking standards, and health care. Mr. Christopher Saunders, MP, was a panelist for the session on banking standards, and provided delegates with best practices from Cayman’s financial management and legislation.
A strong contingent of nearly two-dozen youth parliamentarians gathered on 26th July for the 16th Regional Youth Parliament. The two Caymanian delegates were selected for the top two positions, with Mr. Amani Ebanks as the YP Premier, and Mr. Alex Harris as the YP Leader of the Opposition.
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