CAYMAN | MP Bernie Bush removed as Home Affairs Minister after "loose Comment"

GRAND CAYMAN, April 11, 2022 - The Minister of Home Affairs and member of parliament for Cayman's West Bay North constituency Bernie Bush, has been stripped of the Home Affairs ministry and sent on two weeks leave without pay by  Premier G. Wayne Panton.

This follows comments he made about the fire service which violated the Constitution and Parliamentary Code of Conduct, Premier Panton announced late Sunday night.

The Ministry of Home Affairs will be reassigned to Minister Sabrina Turner effective Monday, 11 April 2022 following Bush’s infringements of Section 55 of the Constitution and breaches to two sections of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

On 27 July 2021 the newly installed  Government adopted a Ministerial Code of Conduct and made a commitment to not only uphold the Code of Conduct, but to accept consequences if the Code was breached by a Minister.

Premier Panton said “Minister Bush’s conduct and comments in relation to the staffing of the Fire Service are infringements of Section 55 of the Constitution and breach Section 2.4 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct. 

Furthermore, other comments he made as Minister, contravenes Section 2.6.3 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct. We all agreed to hold ourselves to certain standards of conduct when adopting the Ministerial Code of Conduct last year. 

The consequence for this breach is, in part, that the responsibility for the Ministry of Home Affairs will be reassigned to Minister Sabrina Turner, effective Monday, 11 April 2022,” Panton said.

The Cayman Premier has also required Minister Bush to apologise to the Governor, Deputy Governor and the former Acting Chief Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairsfor his conduct. 

Bush will be subject to two weeks unpaid leave effective Monday, 18 April, during which Parliamentary Secretary Isaac Rankine will act as Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage.

“This has been a valuable lesson for me and I accept the consequences of my actions. The Premier continues to have my full confidence and support,” said Minister Bernie Bush.

“I believe Minister Bush can make a substantial contribution to the good of our country in the areas of youth, sports, culture and heritage. These subjects align well with his interests and experience and his passion. I am optimistic that the unfortunate events of the past will bear no reflection on his future performance,” the Premier added.

“My hope is that Members of Parliament will adopt broadly similar obligations and standards in a Parliamentary Code of Conduct to be observed by all members of Parliament, and if that Code is breached, Members of Parliament should similarly face consequences,” the Premier concluded.