Three companies shortlisted for Beal site survey
THREE companies have been shortlisted to do the survey of the primary site of the Beal spaceport in the North West District, head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Mr Deochand Narine told the Chronicle yesterday. They are Harrinandan Associates, the Edward Hopkinson firm and the Chapman firm. CEMCO had also indicated an interest, Narine said. According to Narine, the companies are to submit estimates to do the cadastral surveys for a five-mile area, a 10-mile area and a 10-acre area. The estimates are expected by Wednesday and an announcement will be made on Thursday, he said, adding that the survey has to be completed within 90 days of the signing of the agreement with Beal Guyana Launch Services. Last week GO-INVEST met the Lands and Surveys Department to begin consultations on the survey as stated in the agreement with the American firm signed on May 19. Initially, Beal will be investing US$100M in construction and about 30 per cent of this will remain in Guyana, the firm said. Prime Minister Sam Hinds said at the signing that the 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. According to him, the government expects that the project will prove to be a marketing and financial success precisely because of the financial model which Guyana has chosen to negotiate and the unique advantage it offers. Guyana will immediately benefit from revenue obtained from the sale of land and the recurrent revenue from the rental of land and launch fees. Mr David Spoede, Vice President of Beal Guyana Launch Services said the signing of the agreement demonstrated Beal's long-term commitment to and investment in Guyana. He added that Beal considered numerous sites for this facility, some of which were offered were arguably favourable terms, but the firm chose Guyana for several reasons. The company has already been in contact with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with respect to submitting an Environmental Impact Assessment. Beal is also working to obtain the permission of the U.S. State Department to export key technological data and products out of the U.S. to Guyana. (ROBERT BAZIL)
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