Bermuda Police Commissioner was embarrassingly barred from Cuba.

At the same time the matter will also be raised in Havana by the British Embassy as officials seek a full explanation of the mix-up.

On Monday, Mr. Colin Coxall was due to attend an important drugs conference in Cuba, organised by the United Nations Drug Control Programme.

But on Saturday he returned to Bermuda, getting no further than Mexico where he was told his travel papers would not get him into Cuba. The documents were organised by the Cuban Government and the UN.

Yesterday Deputy Governor Mr. Peter Willis said: "We will make representations in two ways. We will have the Foreign Office contact the UN and we will have our Embassy get in touch with the Cuban authorities.'' He added: "We understand there was someone waiting to meet Mr. Coxall when he arrived in Havana. The nonsense is that someone further down the line said he could not come.'' According to a Police statement yesterday, Mr. Coxall and his wife, were in Mexico when they were told by Mexicano Airlines on Friday that their documents would not entitle them to board the plane and fly to Cuba.

"This caused considerable embarrassment to the Commissioner and his wife, especially when they had documents in their possession from the Cuban Government and the UN which were supposed to clear them for Cuba.

"Furthermore, at the time Mr. and Mrs. Coxall were stranded at the airport in Mexico City the Cuban Minister of the Interior was at Havana airport awaiting their arrival,'' added the statement.

Mr. and Mrs. Coxall came back to Bermuda on Saturday, a day after being stuck in Mexico. "The Commissioner was extremely disappointed that he was unable to attend this important drugs conference,'' said the statement.

The trip for Mr. Coxall cost $1,886, which is paid for by the UN, but he paid for his wife to travel and spent more than $1,440, which he is unlikely to see again.

The Police statement added: "Enquiries have revealed an administrative mix-up by the UN and the Cuban Ministry of the Interior. Representations will be made through the Governor's office to the United Nations in this matter.''