PREMIER Alex Scott yesterday condemned Cuba for its round-up and imprisonment of dissidents earlier this year and said Bermuda's future relationship with the Fidel Castro regime would go no further than cultural matters.

His comments offered the first clarification of the Government's relationship with the Communist Caribbean island, since this newspaper revealed in May that a memorandum of understanding had been negotiated between the two countries.

And Mr. Scott's assertion that the human rights of the jailed Cuban dissidents had been "trespassed" was the first top-level criticism of Cuba from the Bermuda Government since the round-up took place. Mr. Scott, who took office just two weeks ago after a post-election split among the governing Progressive Labour Party's MPs forced the resignation of ex-Premier Jennifer Smith, said he was not "up to speed" on whether or not the memorandum with Cuba had yet been signed.

As it was a matter of foreign policy, permission for the memorandum had to be given by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), permission which was granted two months ago.

Details of the memorandum have not been made public, but the agreement is understood to provide for cultural and artistic exchanges.

"Our position, as a government, is that our relationship with Cuba is going to be restricted to cultural participation and the relevant events," Mr. Scott said. "That really is a full stop.

"I don't think there is anything other than cultural exchange matters in the memorandum. I know we have already had some music students down there who have enjoyed a very productive experience."

In April, Tourism and Telecommunications Minister Ren?e Webb visited Cuba to see a cultural exchange involving musicians from both islands.

Also in April, 75 opponents of the 44-year-old Castro dictatorship, including librarians, economists and independent journalists, were locked up by the authorities and summarily sentenced to terms of imprisonment as long as 28 years.

And three men who attempted to escape the island by hijacking ferries were also executed.

The European Union, the United States and Amnesty International were among those who contributed to global condemnation of Cuba's actions, condemnation that Mr. Scott said was warranted.

News of negotiations over the memorandum sparked fierce debate in the House of Assembly in May, with Opposition MPs questioning how far the deal with Cuba would go and criticising ex-Premier Smith for failing to condemn the Caribbean country for its abuse of human rights.

Mr. Scott said yesterday: "If things happened as reported, it's not surprising that the global community reacted as they did. The criticism was warranted.

"It looks like a trespassing of human rights took place. I certainly would not support that and, if it was as reported, I could not see any country supporting that.

"If these people did not have the full benefit of the justice system, with a jury and proper defence - and I understand they did not - then it was wrong."

Mr. Scott said that Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown's plans to send the island's old buses and ferries to Cuba had not changed, however.

"If we have buses that have deteriorated and Cuba is interested in having them, then they can have them down there," said the Premier.

"But the ferries will be a sale. They will have to buy them, they will not be a gift."

Premier Scott travels to Scotland this weekend to see the Bermuda Regiment Band and the Gombeys performing in the Edinburgh Tattoo.