WPA questions non-involvement of GDF in Beal negotiations Stabroek News March 17, 2000 The Working People's Alliance (WPA) is questioning the non-involvement of the military in the negotiations with Beal Aerospace Technologies for the establishment of a satellite launch site here. "Guyana must be the only country in which the national army is not closely engaged in a development which will assign large areas of land and air space to the control of non-citizens," the WPA stated. The party said it is clear to see that if a government has not involved those charged with the defence of the country, the arrangements will not include the ordinary citizens and will have to be regarded and rejected as the private affair of people in government. The WPA noted that at the moment no one outside a small ring knows what is being contracted but, although some rumours can be dismissed, the report that a number of laws which apply elsewhere in the country will not apply to the area in question is disturbing. The government claims that Beal will mean a breakthrough for Guyana into the new age of technology, the party said, and asked why then the project had not received the attention of the National Development Strategy committee. The WPA wanted to know why there is so much secrecy if the project "fits into national development directions." The party said the government seems to be as mystified as the population about the nature of the project.