All remaining Beal deal issues resolved - Hinds Proposed US treaty with Brazil poses threat Stabroek News April 19, 2000 The agreement which would allow Beal Aerospace Technologies to set up a launch site in Guyana should be signed by the end of April. The end of March was the last deadline which was given for the signing. And despite news that Brazil was to sign a landmark treaty yesterday with the US related to the transfer of rocket launch technology, Prime Minister Sam Hinds is still confident that the deal would be concluded with the Texas, USA-based company. The Prime Minister told Stabroek News yesterday that all the remaining issues had been resolved and "we are trying to confirm with Beal that the agreement was now to mutual satisfaction and understanding." He said the government was now in the process of coming up with a clean document that would reflect all the understandings and adjustments that have been made which would then be checked out by Beal. Brazil was one of the countries with which Beal had been in contact about establishing a launch site and the Prime Minister observed that he was sure that Brazil would like to encourage launches from there. "Brazil is trying to make things as sweet as they could," the Prime Minister said, explaining that that was one danger to the Guyana deal with Beal from the treaty Brazil was to sign with the US yesterday. The treaty with Brazil will allow US satellite launch companies to use their sensitive missile-like launch technology on foreign soil for the first time. Beal will require US State Department approval for the use of the technology here. The Prime Minister, referring to the investment being made by Brazil in the ventures, said that he was sure Guyana's southern neighbour was not seeking to recoup its investment from the launch fees but was hoping to do so by getting involved down the road in the assembly of rocket components. Concerns about the deal had been raised locally by the opposition political parties and the Guyana Is First grouping. The major complaint was that the details of the proposed agreement were being kept secret. PNC leader, Desmond Hoyte, at a press conference last month, had said that despite a discussion with the Prime Minister and a delegation a number of issues were not addressed to the satisfaction of his party. Among these was the question as to what law would govern the concession being given to Beal and the fiscal resources that would flow to the Treasury from the agreement. (Patrick Denny)