NewsRegional UK confirms former Cayman premier lost OBE over assault charges by Barbados Today 26/08/2023 written by Barbados Today Updated by Desmond Brown 26/08/2023 1 min read A+A- Reset Share FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail 329 (CMC) –– The United Kingdom’s Cabinet office has confirmed that Caymanian parliamentarian, McKeeva Bush, has lost the title Order of the British Empire (OBE) based on his criminal conviction for assaulting a bar manager in February 2020. According to the UK Cabinet office’s newly published list of honours that have been revoked by the Sovereign, Bush forfeited his royal medal following his criminal conviction. In October last year, there were reports that the former premier’s OBE was under review by the forfeiture committee. However, Bush, in a post on social media, claimed that he made the decision to give up the OBE that he has held for 26 years because times had changed. “I found myself conflicted about retaining an award that doesn’t promote Caymanian excellence but rather one that many people believe celebrated imperialism and perpetuated a system of class and privilege,” Bush said. He claimed he had formally written to the responsible bodies in the United Kingdom to return the royal title. You Might Be Interested In Crystal Beckles-Holder, 2nd runner up in regional competition GUYANA: Body of child found after gold mine collapses Business owners disappointed But, the list from the Cabinet office clearly states that the honour was revoked because of criminal offences and not because of Bush’s change of heart over the medal’s connection to the British Empire and the negative legacy of Cayman’s colonial masters. Barbados Today Stay informed and engaged with our digital news platform. The leading online multimedia news resource in Barbados for news you can trust. You may also like Fish vendors seek urgent ice access after oil spill shutdown 06/06/2025 Oil spill cleanup in final stretch 06/06/2025 Officials: Environmental disaster averted in Barbados’ first major oil spill 06/06/2025