Business
Cayman Islands: Premier under investigation, business community nervous
Cayman Premier., McKeeva Bush
Police probes into Cayman Premier McKeeva Bush over two alleged cases of financial irregularities and his involvement with an illegal shipment of dynamite has raised concerns from both the Chamber of Commerce and Cayman Finance.
A statement from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service on Saturday revealed that the premier was now the subject of three different police investigations. Two of those relate to financial irregularities, one of which surrounds a letter sent by Bush to Texan developer Stan Thomas back in 2004 asking for US$350,000 to settle a matter relating to a land deal and zoning. The third police probe, according to the police, is connected with an unlicensed shipment of dynamite that recently arrived in Cayman.
The continuation of the enquiries and Cayman’s reputation was of particular concern to the Chamber and its 700 members, a spokesperson for the body stated on Tuesday. “As expected, the announcement has generated negative international media coverage at a time when the local business community is working diligently to improve the economy, increase investment and jobs. It is therefore imperative that these police investigations are completed as efficiently and quickly as possible to confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the allegations, ” the Chamber stated in response to the revelations by the police last Saturday that the premier was at the heart of three different criminal probes.