US Consul General Denis Coleman has questioned both the politics and practicality of Government's bid to offload left-hand drive buses to communist Cuba.

He said it risked upsetting the American Government and also inferred the Cubans would not have much use for buses which dropped off passengers in the middle of the road in the right-hand drive nation.

However yesterday Transport Minister Ewart Brown again defended the plan and said it could lead to further benefits to Bermuda while Cuba might not use the buses for passengers but find another use.

Government is planning to give unwanted buses away but talks are also being held on the sale of three ferries, the transfer of old cars and the possibility of Bermuda becoming a hub for travel to Europe via Cuba's national airlines.

Dr. Brown said recently there was also an environmental benefit as 80 cars a month were now being dumped in the ocean.

Yesterday the US Government's top man in Bermuda, Mr. Coleman said: "I find it very perplexing.

"I am not quite sure of the purpose of the outreach to Cuba. US policy is to isolate Cuba.

"Bermuda has the right to do what every it wants to do but isn't obvious what the benefits are to Bermuda.

"I have not attempted to get a response on why they are doing it. It seems the policy is pulling away from the US."

And he added: "Left-hand drive buses in Cuba?

"The tone is much more interesting than the action.

"You wonder what's behind the thought process when you do something that goes against one of your closest friends with no apparent benefit to yourself. Is that not cause for wonder?

"The policy is to isolate Cuba and Bermuda seems to be trying to open a relationship with Cuba.

"I don't quite know the benefit of it unless Bermuda expects to receive Cuban pesos and Cuban tourists."

Asked about the fall-out for US/Bermuda relations he said: "I have no idea. That's just cause for speculation. A relationship either grows together or grows apart."

He refused to say if the deal had been reported back to the US Government.

Asked if he knew the US Government was aware of it he said: "I am aware of it and I find it perplexing."

Recently the European Commission froze Cuba's request for aid after the jailing of 75 dissidents and firing squad execution of three men who hijacked a ferry in an attempt to reach the United States.

Asked about Mr. Coleman's comments Dr. Brown said: "I am not aware of any official communication between the US Government and the Government of Bermuda. If and when it happens I am sure we will deal with it.

"Any information that the Consul General would like to have should be indicated by official communication."

He said dealing with Cuba had benefits for Bermuda.

"If we did provide boats we would be able to do less damage to the marine environment and we would be able to benefit from the sale of the vessels."

Asked what use left-hand drive buses would be he said: "That would be up to the people taking the vehicles.

"I would point out that there are all kinds of left hand drive and right-hand drive vehicles in the US."

Pressed on whether it would be dangerous to drop off passengers in the middle of the road Dr. Brown said: "You are speculating on how the recipient would use them. They might use them to move chickens from one place to another.

"We don't know what they are going to use them for."

The talks with Cuba don't appear to have upset the British Government.

Deputy Governor Tim Gurney said: "There is no Foreign and Commonwealth Office issue with it."