No evidence Beal will disturb Amerindian archaeological sites - Prime Minister Guyana Chronicle June 15, 2000 CLAIMS that the Beal Commercial Space Launch Facility will impinge upon historical or archaeological locations of the Amerindian peoples, will be re-examined when an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is conducted, Prime Minister Sam Hinds announced yesterday. Briefing the media at a press conference held at the GTV studios, Homestretch Avenue, the Prime Minister said that there is no legitimate evidence available to support the claims that the launch site will disturb the archaelogical locations of the Warraus or the other three Amerindian peoples who inhabit the Northwest Region. The Prime Minister was armed with digital maps indicating the precise location of the proposed launch site - the Primary Area and the Buffer Area - in relation to the surrounding communities. According to the maps Waropoko and Barabina are the closest Amerindian villages to the Launch area. They are some 39 kilometres or 24 miles from the site. Beal's Primary Site will occupy a five-mile radius while the Buffer Zone will utilise a 10-mile radius. Both are a considerable distance from the Amerindian and other population centres, he reiterated. "It is clear, therefore that none of these centres will be directly affected by the launch site operations," the Prime Minister said. In the main, subsistence and commercial farming are done by about 50 families in the area, and the Prime Minister explained that though some of the farmers are of Amerindian descent, many are farmers who have moved into the area. He said after empoldering and farming in the vicinity for about five to 10 years, these farmers are known to relocate because of flooding or infertile land. On the issue of access to the Waini River where it passes through the Primary Site and the Buffer Zone, for the purpose of fishing and transportation, the Prime Minister said there is an agreement that the waterway will be closed only during actual launching periods. He pointed out too that there is a reserve area of 100 feet, which, in accordance with the country's bylaws, is designed to protect the shoreline from any kind of encroachment. The nearest launch pad will be between a quarter and half mile from the shore line, Mr Hinds stressed. With the Prime Minister at the Press Conference were Daudi Husbands, Information Specialist with the Guyana National Resources Information Systems (GNIS), which exists within the Guyana Natural Resourses Agency (GNRA) through a Guyana/Germany relationship; German Team leader, Mr Ben J.H. ter Welle and Mr Kit Nascimento, Communications Consultant. Husbands pointed out that the information on the area was traced and recorded on computer from original maps obtained from the Lands and Surveys Department. He said the unit had also liaised with Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr Harripersaud Nokta; Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Mr Vibert DeSouza and Adviser to the President on Science and Technology, Mr Navin Chandarpal for information on the Amerindian lands based on the 1969 Amerindian Act and a report by the Amerindian Peoples Commission. Prime Minister Hinds also announced that a Committee will be established shortly to attend to the details and terms of resettlement of the 50 families. The body will comprise representatives of the affected families. Some US$400 000 have been allocated for the relocation process. (WENDELLA DAVIDSON) Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today