Some long awaited Government commissioned reports may not make it to the public eye after all, despite Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler's strident advocacy for their release when he was a backbencher.

What might raise some eyebrows is that Mr. Butler doesn't mind. And he also has a different view on links with Cuba, which he had vigorously opposed during his backbencher days.

Mr. Butler was in Havana September 10 to sign a memorandum of understanding for cultural exchange between Cuba and Bermuda.

"I hope so. Yes," he said at a press conference Thursday when asked if he had changed as a Minister. "You see a broader responsibility. So, yes."

Mr. Butler made the reports issue his first order of business when he joined the Cabinet after the July general elections and had talks with Premier Alex Scott who asked him to submit a list of reports he felt should be released before proceeding. The Premier said after the meetings that as long as there weren't any national security issues which would preclude against releasing a report then it would be released.

At a press conference last week Mr. Butler said that he had submitted a list of about five reports and he now appreciated why not all of them will be released. The others will be publicised by tabling in parliament. "I read a report (on tourism) this week which I don't think should be publicised," he said. "Our competition would be delighted."

Last year Mr. Butler, widely respected as an independent minded politician, joined the Opposition in criticising Government for not releasing reports such as a review of the Island's asbestos.

The United Bermuda Party (UBP) had been relentless in demanding the release of some seven or eight reports - including a review of the Bermuda Regiment, a taxation review, a report on asbestos disposal and a paper on Civil Service reform.

Mr. Butler agreed saying that such information was vital if he was to do an effective job as an MP.

Mr. Butler, who last week signed off on a memorandum establishing cultural links with Cuba had also sided with the Opposition to say the risk of harming relations with the United States, Bermuda's biggest trading partner, could have consequences which far outweighed the benefits of such links.

In a passionate speech to the House of Assembly in May this year, Mr. Butler also cited human rights concerns about Cuba and said that his party was wrong to forge close links with the Caribbean nation, especially given the party's history as an organisation which fought for human rights.

The row had been brewing since Transport Minister Ewart Brown announced that Government was considering shipping old buses to Cuba and had engaged in talks about making Bermuda a hub for the country's national airline between Europe and Cuba. While the party had its "cultural fantasies" there were political realities that have to be faced. "Let's not mix our cultural fantasies with our political realities," he said.

He had no problem going against the party's position, he told the House of Assembly, because his views reflected the principles of the party and the concerns of his 1,300 constituents. "I was given the responsibility in this House not to be a mouse or a blind follower."

On Thursday Mr. Butler said that the United States consul general had seen the Cuba memorandum's terms of reference and had no problems with it.

"Once it became obvious that the US consul had no problem with that then I had no problem with that."

He stressed that artistic and cultural exchanges between the two countries could be of immense benefit to Bermuda's cultural development. Premier Scott said that the idea of sending Bermuda's old buses to the country had not resurfaced. Mr. Butler said he was still concerned about Cuba's human rights record, but said that as a Minister with collective responsibility his choice was to abide by the decision or resign.

"I don't think there's a minister anywhere in the world who gets everything they want." Asked why he didn't resign, he said: "I thought as a new Minister, I would have more of an impact... I did not think in light of what Bermuda needs it merited my resignation."

Besides, he said, he was also in a position to informally raise his concerns directly with the Cuban authorities and had done so when in Havana to sign the memorandum. "They responded as diplomats would - `thank you for your comments' and moved on. They knew I was not there officially to take on human rights issue. But I being the person that I am could not overlook any concerns that I had."

As for his constituents "they will judge me at the appropriate time," Mr. Butler said. "All I am saying is I am aware as you are aware of something called collective responsibility. Now I am a minister responsible for the whole government."