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That's the view of Shadow Cultural Affairs Minister Louise Jackson, who yesterday lambasted Government's decision to finance the Havana Latin Millennium Jazz Band's trip to Bermuda, and demanded it provide the public with answers to the following:

The exact cost ? plane fare, accommodation and other expenses ? of bringing the band to the island.

The amount of money Government has set aside for scholarships and other financial assistance which would enable Bermudians to participate in summer programmes and workshops locally and abroad.

"First and foremost, I would like to know how much we, the taxpayers, are paying for the importation of this Havana Jazz Band?" Mrs. Jackson asked. "I know what the budget is for Cultural Affairs and I would have thought that bringing in groups of artists was something best left to the Bermuda Festival and other groups, and that the monies for the Cultural Affairs Department would be better spent on scholarships and workshops and other helping aids for Bermudian artists ? of which we have many.

"It's a real slap in the face for students of the arts, particularly at this time of year. Many of them are trying to get the funds together to go abroad for summer programmes. Many of them have applied to schools of the arts ? students who want to major in music, art or dance ? and are looking for funds to go to university.

"We have so many students right here in Bermuda who can't afford to take part in (local) arts programmes. Many of the private ones are expensive and, while Government also has arts summer programmes, even they have a fee that some children find it impossible to find the funding for."

Last week, Mrs. Jackson accused Cultural Affairs Minister Dale Butler of standing on Church Street and soliciting funds from the public to finance the band's trip to the island.

That accusation was denied by the Minister, who said the trip would be financed by the taxpayer ? this one time only. He explained that the group of 15- to 18-year-old musicians had expected to perform at last year's Jazz Festival, but were prevented by visa glitches. This upcoming trip was meant to honour that earlier commitment.

Yesterday, Mrs. Jackson said that Government should leave such arrangements to organisations not funded by public taxes.

"My big question is how much is this costing us, the taxpayers, who look to this Ministry for help as far as our cultural activities are concerned? I'd like to know what the price tag is to bring this orchestra here ? their travel, their accommodation, and their per diem. I also wonder how many more of these groups are coming and what we are going to have to pay?

"I think it's upsetting, particularly, as I understand it's a youth band. You have Bermudians whose parents are paying taxes. They look and see these other children who are being flown here while their children are sitting, pining to go away.

"I just don't think it's fair. There are many who want to be able to participate in summer activities locally and abroad. It's not an inexpensive thing to put your child in a tennis camp or a swimming class. I think the priorities are all wrong.

"You're asking international businesses, you're asking private individuals, to fund this, to give us that. We have our own here we should be looking after, and we're bringing in a foreign band. Our taxes are paying for that Ministry. It should be dealing with us. Let's leave the importation of artistic groups to the Jazz Festival and Bermuda Festival and others."

The Shadow Minister said many Bermudians ? on hearing such facts ? would assume that if Government was able to finance a band's entire trip to the island, it must have a reserve set aside so that residents could similarly benefit.

"As a side issue, they're coming from a country which we have serious doubts about," she said. "We've already been advised by the American Consul that it's not in our best interest to be doing business with this country because of their human rights violations among many other things.

"I just can't see why we're persisting with this love affair with Cuba. But my second big question is, how much money has been allotted for Bermudian students to have scholarships and other means of financial help to do summer programmes and workshops?

"I know that the Bermuda Arts Council is very good with this but they have a very limited budget. I know they're only able to assist very few students. If this Government can afford to bring up a whole orchestra from Cuba, put them up and the rest of it . . . I just find it very, very peculiar."

The Minister did not return calls by press time last night.