Satellite launch site deal within reach - Spoede
Government negotiators and a team from Beal Aerospace Technologies Inc have made significant progress towards reaching an agreement on the establishment of a commercial satellite launch facility in the Waini Area of Region One. A press statement from the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), after three days of talks from September 7 to 9, quoted Beal's Corporate General Counsel, David Spoede, as expressing satisfaction at the progress of the talks held at Go-Invest's offices. "We are very satisfied that our three days of intensive negotiations have brought us within reach of a major hi-tech agreement in Guyana that will be mutually beneficial for Guyana, the Guyanese people and our company," the release quoted Spoede as saying. He said that Beal looked forward "in the weeks ahead" to continuing its discussions with the government and was optimistic that an agreement could be reached. Earlier this week, Spoede had told Stabroek News that he would be in Guyana until the two sides reached an agreement. And even though negotiations are proceeding, Beal is still awaiting permission from the US State Department to transfer satellite technology to Guyana. But Spoede had said that as soon as an agreement was reached with government, he was confident that the company will be able to secure the approval of the US State Department. The government team at the negotiations comprised chairman Edgar Heyligar, Go-Invest Director, Deochand Narain and Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Cecil Dhurjon. According to the release, Heyligar, in expressing satisfaction at the progress of the talks, said government negotiators will work hard to produce an agreement "that serves Guyana's interests". "We hope to bring a major investment to Guyana that will create hundreds of jobs for Guyanese and demonstrate to the world that Guyana is an excellent location for high technology industries," Heyligar said. Beal Aerospace Technologies began talks with government earlier this year aimed at the establishment of a state-of-the-art launch site in the Waini River. It is looking to set up the launch facility in a five-mile uninhabited stretch, which will contain a vehicle assembly building, a payload processing building, a launch pad and launch control complex and a 10,000-foot runway. The complex is also slated to contain among other things, ancillary facilities, and offices and expects to create at least 500 jobs. Spoede had also told this newspaper that following the successful conclusion of the negotiations, the company would hire a firm to conduct an environment impact assessment study.
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