Opposition MP John Barritt questioned what Government would do if Cubans arriving as part of the cultural link with Bermuda decided to defect.

He spoke to The Royal Gazette after Community Affairs and Sports Minister Dale Butler tabled Government's memo of understanding with Castro's Communist Government.

The document sets out areas of co-operation including hosting of events and exhibitions. The understanding will last until 2007.

Mr. Barritt said much of the document was unspecific and left the details to be worked out later.

And he said: “What is the position of Bermuda if an artist defects? I don't raise this out of mischief.

“When abroad you sometimes get Cubans taking advantage and seeking asylum.

“I wonder if any thought has gone into that and what position they might well be faced with? No one knows.

“It's fairly clear a number of Cubans will take up sports and art because it gives them a ticket out of Cuba.

“If the Government think they have a problem with work permits imagine having to deal with this one.”

Mr. Butler told The Royal Gazette Bermuda had numerous artists visit from Cuba in recent years, some of whom had been invited by Government while others have worked at Club Azure in St. David's. But none had tried to defect said the Minister.

He said defectors favoured America where they were automatically given rights to stay and they would not want to stay in Bermuda. “The average artist is extremely happy in Cuba. There is no job here for them, our artists are struggling.”

He said Government did look into the possibility of defections but felt it wasn't an issue although he said Government might look at it again. In the House Mr. Butler's was rapped by the speaker after he defended his change of heart on Cuba which the Opposition had criticised and he was forced to cut short his speech. The speaker agreed with Opposition members who said Ministerial statements were not supposed to score political points.