While Bermuda debates the controversial topic of the merits of fostering further links with Cuba, the Cayman Islands is settling in still further.

According to a report on Caymannetnews, Cayman Airways (CAL) moved its airport operations in Havana to Terminal Three at the Jose Marti International Airport recently in a bid to boost tourism.

Terminal Three is a newer and more modern facility where most international flights arrive and depart and will offer Cayman Airways passengers a nicer environment, the newspaper said on its Internet site.

Opposition Cultural Affairs spokesman Louise Jackson said Cuba's human rights abuses and the reaction from the Americans meant Bermuda should not pursue the Cuban links.

She said: "Quite frankly, I am not interested in what other islands are doing. I am interested in this country."

She said criticism from the departing US Consul Denis Coleman over Bermuda's stance showed it was not in the Island's interests to carry on cuddling up to Communist Cuba.

It was a country which jailed authors, poets, doctors and lawyers for "reading the wrong book and saying the wrong thing", said Mrs. Jackson.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown declined to comment on the Caymans policy in Havana.

The move will also facilitate connections to and from Central America and Europe, from where several airlines are increasing their services to Havana.

According to Caymannetnews, the move could attract more Americans who wish to travel to Cuba. As a result of 'Trading with the Enemy' Act in 1963, the US Government currently bans Americans from spending money in Cuba, a decree that effectively prevents travel there without special permission from the Treasury Department.

However, increasing numbers of Americans are travelling unauthorised to Cuba from third countries such as Mexico and the Cayman Islands.

It is estimated that as many as 100,000 Americans travel to Cuba from third countries.

Cayman Airways currently operates three weekly flights to Havana on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Before departing Bermuda recently, Mr. Coleman accused Government of fostering economic relations with Cuba warning it could lead to a deterioration of relations between Bermuda and America.

He accused Government in a television interview of breaking a promise last year that its relations with Cuba would only be cultural but it had then agreed to allow a regular charter flight to the Caribbean island.

Mr. Coleman added that business and airline links to Cuba could amount to "aiding and abetting" American citizens to break the law.

However, Premier Alex Scott had said Government had stuck to its promise and said the flight link which had Bermuda as a stop-off from Spain to Cuba was a private initiative.

Government MP Wayne Perinchief is linked with the deal. Britain has taken a relaxed attitude to the initiative and its national airline British Airways flies to Cuba.