The Government of Guyana has once again thrown open the doors of the interior to yet another foreign company and Guyana is about to become the home to yet another industry. This time the country’s newest investor is Beal Aerospace Inc. of Texas, United States. The company is proposing to build a rocket launching site in the Waini River area, Region 1.
Once again in a very short period of time, the Government is prepared to give another foreign company rights to land in Guyana while paying little heed to Amerindians’ call for their land rights be adequately addressed. Some of these very lands that the government is giving out as leases or as in the case of Beal, selling the land, are lands under claim by Amerindians.
(Rocket Launching site)
In August 1997, Beal Aerospace expressed interest in Guyana but opted for Sombrero, a small island off the shores of Anguilla to pursue its investments. Late last April however, the company returned with renewed interest to explore the possibility of setting up a rocket launch site in Guyana. According to a Beal official, they returned here because there was a delay by the British government in granting permission to start construction on Sombrero Island.
Whatever the reason for the delay, studies related to this project have surfaced to reveal that almost 70% of the Masked Booby bird which nest on the island could be destroyed by the rocket site activity. The nesting ground for most Caribbean birds could also be wiped out. This has caused environmental groups to object to the investment. Beal’s officials have downplayed this factor as the reason for returning to Guyana.
The Guyana government on the other hand appears to be eager to do what ever it can to encourage Beal to invest in Guyana. One of the daily newspapers quotes Prime Minister Sam Hinds as saying that the Government will do all it can to secure the multi-million dollar investment.
There is yet no word about an environmental impact assessment being done to evaluate how the operation of the rocket launching site could affect the environment.
Very close to the Beal site, there is the famous Shell Beach where certain endangered species of the sea turtles nest. This is also the area where some Amerindians from the Waini and Moruca do their traditional fishing, hunting, farming and other activities.
In an attempt to consult with the residents of Region 1, the company made visits to Moruca and Mabaruma. There was generally mixed feelings about the proposed Beal operation.
Some residents liked the idea of the company being present in the area while others took a more guarded position. Those who welcomed the idea were considering the job opportunities that would be available while others felt that the jobs would only be a short term opportunity. The majority felt that they needed a lot more information before they could make a decision. They would like to know about the impact on the environment and how their traditional rights would be protected. They also want to know the conditions under which the company would be given the land.
The residents pointed out that short meetings such as those held by the company did not provide adequate time for them to make informed decisions in matters that may affect them for the rest of their lives.
Some approaches were made to individual families by the government about their views on the project. At the time, most of these families agreed they would like to have Beal in their area. They are now reconsidering this position as they realise that they had very limited information to make a decision.
The APA feels that there must be open discussions, with those to be affected in possession of all the information pertaining to the deal before decisions are made. These discussions must include both the positive and negative impacts of the project on the communities. Only then can they make informed decisions.
Travelling on the Moruca River