No impact on Guyana deal - Heyliger - international runway mooted for Waini By Gitanjali Singh Stabroek News January 12, 2000 Government's chief negotiator, Edgar Heyliger does not see Beal Aerospace Technologies' withdrawal from St Croix in favour of Cape Canaveral, Florida as having any implications for a spaceport in Guyana. Beal on Friday announced that it had received a proposal from Florida to construct its headquarters and assembly plant at Cape Canaveral and cancelled plans for these facilities in St Croix, the US Virgin Islands. The company had planned to assemble the manufactured vehicles in St Croix and ship these to Guyana for launching. "I don't think it has any implication for Guyana. We are still in negotiations," Heyliger told Stabroek News yesterday. There was opposition in St Croix to the proposed location of the assembly plant and headquarters as the area had been previously allocated for recreational facilities. The firm had proposed to invest US$100 million in those facilities. The company is still talking with the Guyana government on setting up a spaceport in Guyana from a point in the Waini in the north west of the country in an investment estimated at US$50 million. The company manufactures the satellite vehicles in McGreggor, Texas, and was negotiating for a site to assemble these as well as a launch site. Its effort to launch from Sombrero Island, off Anguilla was frustrated after groups mobilised against the project because it would have harmed wildlife. The firm then began to look at Guyana seriously. In Guyana, some persons have opposed the proposed sale of 26,010 acres of land to the firm to set up a base in the Waini. The government, however, argued that the sale agreement is being structured to reflect a lease arrangement. Yesterday, Heyliger noted that the company wants to build an international runway at Waini so it will be able to fly what it requires directly to Guyana. Beal has also asked for permission to launch satellites from Cape Canaveral until it is able to set up its own site. The company is working with a deadline to launch satellites early next year. It is understood that the assembly and manufacturing of satellites is not likely to be done in areas not within US government control given the tight hold on satellite technology. The firm is still talking to the US State Department to have such technology transferred to Guyana. Heyliger yesterday indicated that he is not working with any deadline on when to close the transaction with Beal and when a deal is clinched, it will be made public. (GITANJALI SINGH) A © page from: Guyana: Land of Six Peoples