Beal lawyer here for negotiations
By Gitanjali Singh
Legal Counsel for Beal Aerospace Technologies, David Spoede, is here to conclude an agreement with the government for the setting up of a satellite launch site in the Waini District. Spoede, who is Beal's director of government relations, arrived on Monday night and told Stabroek News yesterday he would be here until the two sides reach an agreement. He met President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Director of Go-Invest, Deochand Narain yesterday but it is not yet certain, apart from Narain, who the members of the government's negotiating team are. "Things are going great," was all Spoede was prepared to say yesterday, indicating that because of the sensitive political environment, he did not wish to negotiate in the public. "Both sides are committed to a deal which will be good for Guyana and the Guyanese people but we prefer not to negotiate in public," Spoede stated. The negotiations are already well advanced given that the two sides have exchanged draft agreements. However, Beal is still awaiting permission from the US State Department to transfer satellite technology to Guyana. Spoede was optimistic about the process. "As soon as we get an agreement with the Government of Guyana, I am confident we will be able to secure the State Department's approval." Beal Aerospace Technologies wants to establish a satellite launch site close to the second lagoon in the Waini River and began talks with the government earlier this year on the issue. But while the firm is waiting on US State Department clearance, it is working to launch on an interim basis from Cape Canaveral in Florida. It is to launch its first satellite by December 2000. Spoede confirmed that when Beal has a signed agreement with the government it would hire a firm to conduct the environmental impact assessment study. He was not certain about the process of hiring geotechnical specialists to do the necessary investigations. He also indicated that Beal Aerospace, though a new company in satellite launching, had "adequate money" to do the project in Guyana. He said that unlike other big companies, Beal Aerospace understood the need to get value for money spent. Beal Aerospace is looking for a five-mile uninhabited safety perimeter in the Waini District. It is seeking to establish a vehicle assembly building, a payload processing building, a launch pad, a launch control, a 10,000-foot runway, ancillary facilities, offices, a VIP viewing centre and living quarters. It expects to create at least 500 jobs, 200 of these will be long term and others via linkages.
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