Government?s cultural links with Cuba is unlikely to create a Cuban refugee crisis, according to Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Dale Butler (pictured).

In response to Parliamentary questions posed by his Shadow counterpart Louise Jackson, Mr. Butler said that should visiting Cubans decide to defect while here on a cultural exchange programme, they probably would not qualify as refugees under international law.

He cited the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees which specifies that defectors and asylum seekers must have a ?well founded fear of persecution? based on race, religion, nationality or political opinion to be processed as a refugee.

?It does not appear that the persons anticipated to arrive in Bermuda from Cuba would be considered refugees,? the Minister said in a written reply.

Ms Jackson had asked what Government?s position would be ?should a visiting Cuban on any cultural exchange programme wish to defect??

?The potential of processing a potential refugee in Bermuda is minimised by the fact that Immigration Authorities within the countries through which any Cuban national must travel to reach Bermuda will first require documentation that meets their satisfaction,? Mr. Butler continued.

?Further, we do not anticipate that a visiting Cuban on a cultural exchange programme would wish to claim asylum in Bermuda but would prefer to do so in a country that provides a greater chance for anonymity and opportunities than does Bermuda, such as the country through which they will travel to reach Bermuda.?

Asked whether Government had reached an understanding with the Government of Cuba in the event some did try to defect, or if Government was ?at liberty? help a potential defector, Mr. Butler said that while the UN Refugee Convention had not been extended to Bermuda, Government ?does have an international obligation not to return a refugee to the country of persecution.?

?It is possible that the Bermuda Government may be responsible for a refugee until arrangements can be made for that person?s transfer to a country other than the country of persecution.?

In answer to a third question why a Bermudian student ?who recently travelled to Cuba to study music on the cultural exchange programme decided to return to Bermuda prematurely,? Mr. Butler said no students had gone to the Caribbean island to study music on the programme.