Looking at the positives of the Beal spaceport contract
Editorial
WHEN PRIME Minister Sam Hinds and Mr David Spoede, Vice-President of Beal Guyana Launch Services sat down last Friday to affix their signatures to documents formalising the sale and leasing of lands in the North West District, they signalled a new epoch of development for Guyana. And it is an epoch that can witness a literal leap for this country into the realm of space technologies; for the laying of the infrastructure alone will result in hundreds of jobs for skilled Guyanese. Through contracts for a range of goods and services, several other spin-off employment opportunities will abound. Thus Friday, May 19, 2000 was an historic occasion for this country. Hopefully, that date will mark a turning point in the expressed interests of both foreign and Guyanese investors who are looking for a juxtapositioning of climatic features, willing workers and a stable political environment to commence and develop their industries. We are aware of the many concerns of individuals and groups that are uncomfortable with some aspects of the contract document, and we respect their patriotic right to voice their reservations. However, since the deal has been formalised we would also like them to try and set their reservations aside and to look objectively at the possible benefits the spaceport investment can bring to Guyana in the short-term as well as in the years to come. Some of these benefits were outlined by both Prime Minister Hinds and Vice-President Spoede at the signing ceremony last Friday. "A successful project will generate the creation of high-paid jobs directly employed by Beal during the period of construction and after, as well as indirectly, with a variety of local companies providing services to Beal," Mr Hinds noted. He also pointed out that Beal will be expending US$100M on construction of the spaceport and that 30 per cent of this worth will remain in the country. Guyana's tourist sector can be greatly enhanced by the positive image and international publicity the spaceport will bring. And because Guyana would have learnt much from the exchange with Beal, it will be in a much stronger position to negotiate similar contracts in future. Mr Spoede is of the view that the Guyanese nation is obtaining a 21st century spaceport at no cost or risk to itself. Further, the project will develop significant benefits for the nation, one of which is the powerful signal that it sends to international investors. He said that the overwhelming percentage of the job positions at the spaceport will have to be filled by Guyanese. And, in the tradition of Beal Aerospace in the countries in which it operates, contributions will be made to tertiary institutions in the fields of mathematics, science and technology. Thus the University of Guyana will benefit from these contributions. The firm also plans seeking permission of the State Department of the United States to export key technological data and products to Guyana. With such prospects for development on the horizon, it behoves schoolchildren and youths to hone their studies and skills in the direction of the new technologies and knowledge-based processes so that in time they could take advantage of the opportunities offered by Beal Guyana Launch Services.
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