Beal seeks to address concerns of Moruka residents
by Gitanjali Singh
Some Moruka residents are enthusiastic about the proposed satellite launch site for the Waini while others are cautious about what the investment will mean to them. Those enthusiastic about the investment felt it would mean more jobs and an improvement in their way of life. The very vocal among those who were less sanguine about the proposal included three representatives of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) who queried as to the benefits which would accrue to Amerindians in Moruka. Wade Gates and David Spoede, Beal Aerospace Technologies' directors of corporate relations and government affairs respectively, flew into Moruka on Thursday for a face-to-face meeting with residents on the proposed US multi-million dollar investment. They left Moruka a few hours later with a few resumes for jobs and optimism about the prospects for the proposed investment. "It was a very good meeting," both Spoede and Gates told Stabroek News immediately after the meeting. Moruka, home to Santa Rosa, Kumaka, Acquero and other settlements, is some 45 miles away from the area of the third lagoon in the Waini where Beal is considering siting its satellite launch pad. The company is striving to be as remotely located from settlements as possible and has promised to steer clear of Mabaruma and Venezuela to the north and Santa Rosa to the south. The Beal officials met all three of the local Amerindian groups on Wednesday before flying to Moruka yesterday. The meeting took place at the Extension Centre in Kumaka, where over 50 residents gathered to hear from Gates and Spoede. Gates gave a brief overview of the intended investment, assuring residents that it was in the very early stages of discussion with the government and before the company moved forward, it would like to listen to all parties concerned. On the environmental front, he told residents that turtle expert, Dr Peter Pritchard, had given the assurance that once a safe enough buffer of a five-mile radius was in place, the turtle population would not be affected. "Dr Pritchard thinks it will be a great project for the turtle as it will not touch Shell Beach at all and tourism can continue," Gates said. He pointed to Cape Canaveral in Florida where there was a nature park nearby, which had seen the animals flourishing since the launching of satellites. He also alluded to Puerto Rico where there was a US government bombing range, and a nearby bird sanctuary had been flourishing. This was because the areas were remote and allowed for breeding, he said. Gates also told residents that from 45 miles away, he was not sure they would see the rocket launches much less hear them. He said at 30 miles, a launched rocket sounds like distant thunder but the thick canopy of trees in Guyana could further muffle sounds. "There is a good chance you might not even know we are there," said Gates. Spoede spoke of the employment opportunities with 500 short-term (18 months to two years) and 200 long-term jobs. He said that there would be significant investments in the education system to provide the technical skills the company would need in the years to come. He said the company would invest in science and maths programmes in schools and would attempt to develop a relationship with the University of Guyana. It would also pursue vocational and technical training for Guyanese with institutions in the USA. Arthur Thorne from the Waini River queried whether the company would allow its workforce to be unionised and whether a local person could be trained as the safety officer. APA's representative, David James, queried whether the Waini River would have to be closed at any time to facilitate the company operations. Gates gave the assurance that this would not be the case, except on launch days when a sign would be posted warning of the activity. James also wanted to know what would happen to any person living within the five-mile radius the company wanted for a buffer zone and was informed that they would be compensated for relocation and given market value for their land, possibly with additional benefits. However, Gates said that the company was looking for an area which had the least amount of people. Village Captain and APA representative, John Atkinson, said he was aware that the 500 jobs would only be for three months as that was how long it would take to construct the satellite launch site. Gates, however, said while the company would be happy for it to take three months, it would take between 18 months to two years. Atkinson also wanted to know whether there would be guards within the five-mile buffer zone to molest Amerindians fishing and hunting. Gates said though the company would want to keep the buffer zone off limits, it could facilitate the Amerindians fishing and hunting. However, he stated that on launch days, which would be between six and 12 days each year, the area would have to be off-limits. Gates said he did not believe that flooding would result from the draining of the land and said the company intended to ensure that this did not happen. Region One Member of Parliament, Marco DeSouza, wanted to know about waste disposal and was informed that the company was very clean and did not produce much waste. However, he was told that a sewage treatment plant would be installed and solid waste would be barged to a licensed person to dispose of. While there was uncertainty in the air over where many stood on the project, especially in face of the APA's representatives' reservations, many persons came out openly supporting it, including Delores Rodrigues, Marco DeSouza, Juanita and Henry Phillips, Robert and Patsy Atkinson, Jean Abraham and a few other women and some older men who felt that once it provided jobs, it would be good for the region. 
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