The premier of Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush, has been arrested as part of a corruption probe and is currently in police custody, it was announced Tuesday.
"The Premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush (57), has been arrested and is currently detained in police custody in connection with a number of ongoing police investigations," the Royal Cayman Islands Police Force said in a statement posted on its website.
According to the police statement, 57-year-old Bush was arrested at his home in the West Bay by members of the Financial Crime Unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. It said the premier is suspected of theft related to the misuse of a government credit card as well as the abuse of office over the alleged importation of unspecified explosives without valid permits.
"It would be inappropriate ... to make any further comment in relation to these matters at this time. Further updates will be made available in due course," the police statement added.
Incidentally, police in the British overseas territory in the Caribbean had indicated earlier this year that Bush was the subject of three ongoing investigations, two of which were related to financial irregularities. But Bush had denied any wrong doings and publicly rejected the corruption allegations.
Bush has been the premier of the British Caribbean territory, a well known global tax haven, since May 2009, when his United Democratic Party (UDP) won 9 out of the 15 Legislative Assembly seats in the general elections.
He had founded the UDP in 2000, when he was the tourism, environment and transport minister in the British overseas territory. He subsequently served as the leader of the islands' government between November 2001 and May 2005, and is the longest serving member of the Legislative Assembly.
Apart from being the premier of the Cayman Islands, Bush, who was elected to Legislative Assembly in 2009 from the West Bay constituency, currently holds the position of minister of finance and tourism.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Political News
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.