FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guyana Anti-Corruption Network (GACN)
GACN INVESTIGATING: PRESIDENT’S BROTHER LINKED TO SIGMA ENGINEERS LTD AS FIRM BAGS $10B IN STATE CONTRACTS
Georgetown, Guyana – The Guyana Anti-Corruption Network (GACN) is currently conducting an investigative probe into Sigma Engineers Ltd Inc., a company registered in Guyana on October 6, 2022, which has since secured over GYD 10 billion in state contracts for major water infrastructure projects. The investigation centers on the company’s documented connection to Mohamed Aqtar Ali, brother of President Irfaan Ali, who serves as a senior technical consultant to Sigma’s Guyana operations.
Sigma’s portfolio of contracts includes the $1.3 billion** Cummings Lodge Water Treatment Plant (commissioned October 2025), the **$700 million Caledonia facility (commissioned January 2025), and the $1.9 billion** Bachelor’s Adventure plant. Additional awards comprise a **$129 million well at Garden of Eden, a $2.44 billion** bid for the Shelterbelt rehabilitation project, and a **$1.49 billion joint venture for Lot 2 (Regions 5/6). The Hope treatment plant contract was also awarded, though its value remains undisclosed. The total value of these publicly reported contracts—excluding the unvalued Hope plant—stands at approximately GYD 10.04 billion (roughly USD 48 million).
Beyond its water infrastructure contracts, Sigma Engineers Ltd was also authorized by the Government of Guyana in February 2024 to recruit 500 Bangladeshi healthcare workers to address severe skills shortages in the health sector. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an authorization letter to the company, confirming its appointment to liaise with relevant authorities in Bangladesh for recruitment. Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo subsequently defended the plan, assuring that foreign workers would receive salaries comparable to Guyanese public servants. The ministry clarified that the authorization was issued to “prevent issues such as human trafficking or any abuse of this process.” However, to date, no recruitment has actually occurred through Sigma.
Sigma has confirmed Mohamed Aqtar Ali’s role as a consultant but maintains he has no affiliation with its overseas parent entity. The rapid accumulation of high-value contracts, awarded shortly after the company’s local registration, combined with familial ties to the nation’s highest office and the authorization to facilitate Bangladeshi worker recruitment, raises serious questions about procurement transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and the integrity of state processes. GACN’s upcoming investigative piece will present findings and call on the government and relevant authorities to disclose all documentation related to these contracts and ensure full accountability to the Guyanese people.
Read the full investigation soon at guyanaintegrity.com.
Contact:
Guyana Anti-Corruption Network (GACN)
guyanaintegrity.com
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