Beal officials return to negotiate rocket launch site
OFFICIALS of Beal Aerospace Technologies, the Texas-based firm which wants to set up a rocket launch site in this country, are back here. Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr Wade Gates and Director of Government Relations, Mr David Spoede, who returned last Monday evening, told the Chronicle they will open negotiations with the Goverment on their proposal during this visit. Gates said it is their long term aim to develop a multiple-purpose location in this part of the hemisphere. He added that the Guyana Government has been supportive and encouraging and has shown keen interest in the project. Beal is to embark on a joint extensive environmental assessment of the area with Government, following a previous agreement that the launching pad does not affect, among other things, sea turtles which periodically nest along Guyana's northwest shores. The prospective foreign investors have given the assurance that a natural buffer of dense swamp and forest will be maintained between all Beal activities and the shoreline, Gates said, pointing out that they will access space from south of the Waini River rather than the Atlantic Ocean. According to the plan, Beal will assemble its rockets in St Croix, then ship them to Guyana as the local natural geography provides for launches over open ocean, which is the greatest safeguard to public safety. The investment here should provide jobs for some 500 Guyanese during the construction and 200 permanent employees. In the meantime, the Beal representatives have been holding discussions with editors of media houses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and leaders of political parties in Parliament. They were scheduled to meet yesterday with residents of Amerindian communities in the North West District of Region One (Barima/Waini) near where they want to be based. Gates said they would sensitise those with whom they talk about the company's proposal and its goal while listening to any suggestions/ideas proffered. Through that process and the issues raised in the discourse, they would be able to assess the situation and determine what are the priorities.
|