-GWI defends procurement process
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has alleged that President Irfaan Ali’s brother, Aqtar Ali, is linked to Sigma Engineers, a company he claims has secured more than $12 billion in government contracts.
Mohamed made the allegations in a video on Team Mohamed’s Facebook page on Monday, claiming that Sigma Engineers Ltd Inc. was registered in Guyana on October 6, 2022, and that within days it was positioned to receive major government contracts.
He alleged that a close friend of Aqtar Ali was listed as Sigma’s incorporator, director and secretary, while Aqtar Ali’s name appeared on the company’s financial records.
Among the contracts Mohamed cited were approximately $687 million for works at Caledonia, $1.304 billion for a Cummings Lodge water treatment plant and $1.647 billion for a Bachelor’s Adventure facility. He also identified a $254 million additional works contract at Bachelor’s Adventure, a $3.569 billion Hope Water Treatment Facility contract, a $1.486 billion contract involving Wakenaam and Leguan, and a $2.439 billion Shelter Belt rehabilitation contract.
Mohamed further questioned a series of well-drilling contracts, including a $411 million package for four wells and separate contracts at Port Morant, Garden of Eden and Better Hope. He alleged that in one well-drilling exercise, 10 contractors submitted bids but nine were rejected, leaving Sigma to secure the work. “Why are contractors being invited to compete if the outcome is already known?” he asked, while noting that mark-ups on some contracts could range between 70 and 100 per cent.
Mohamed called on the Financial Intelligence Unit to investigate Sigma’s ownership, contracts, procurement processes and financial transactions, urging authorities to “follow the contracts,” “follow the procurement process” and “follow the money.”
Sigma rejects allegations
In a statement, Sigma Engineers rejected the allegations, describing them as serious misrepresentations of the facts.The company said it has engaged legal counsel and intends to pursue appropriate legal action.
Sigma disputed Mohamed’s suggestion that it was established shortly before receiving a government contract, saying Sigma Engineers Ltd has been incorporated and operating in Bangladesh since 2003.
It said Sigma Engineers Ltd Inc. was registered in Guyana on October 6, 2022, but its first contract in Guyana was awarded in 2026 following a national competitive bidding process conducted through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
The company also addressed the allegations surrounding Aqtar Ali, stating that he is engaged by Sigma Engineers Ltd Inc. in Guyana as a senior technical consultant. It said he has “no affiliation” with the company in Bangladesh.
Sigma said it remains committed to operating in accordance with Guyana’s laws and maintaining standards of professionalism, accountability and integrity. The company said public discourse concerning businesses should be based on accurate and verifiable information and indicated that further information would be provided as its lawyers consider the matter.
Sigma came to notice here in 2024 when it was reported that the government was considering importing health workers from Bangladesh. Sigma would have been in charge of the recruitment. The recruitment was not proceeded with.
GWI defends procurement process
Speaking with Kiskadee Watch yesterday, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh dismissed allegations of preferential treatment, saying Sigma secured its contracts through competitive international tenders and was the lowest responsive bidder on several major projects.
The tenders, he shared, were international and were evaluated through NPTAB, with companies from several countries participating. He said the initial water treatment programme involved seven plants divided into three lots, with Sigma securing one lot at approximately $3.6 billion. Companies from Mexico and Japan secured the other two lots.
For the Hope Water Treatment Plant, Baksh said the six companies submitted bids. Although one company submitted a lower price than Sigma, it was not selected because it lacked experience in constructing surface water treatment plants.“Hope is a huge surface water treatment plant,” he said, explaining that experience was considered in determining the responsive bidder.
The CEO also defended the Shelter Belt project, saying two companies submitted bids and Sigma was the lowest responsive bidder because the other bidder lacked experience in constructing surface water treatment plants.
On the well-drilling contracts, he said 10 contractors bid for a package covering wells at Friendship, Westminster, Shelter Belt and Melanie. Sigma, he said, submitted the lowest bid at approximately $11.6 million, with the other bidders significantly higher. He said the wells were completed in record time, including the Shelter Belt well, which was completed in six weeks.
Baksh said GWI was “very much satisfied” with Sigma’s work and described the company’s performance as very good.He said Sigma’s previous experience in Bangladesh was considered during the evaluation and noted that the company had extensive experience in well drilling and the construction of water and wastewater treatment plants.
On the allegation that Aqtar Ali influenced the contracts, the CEO said: “So far as GWI is concerned, he was never a figure.” He said GWI was unaware of any involvement by the President’s brother in the procurement process and maintained that the bid prices and records showed no preferential treatment. “When you look at the facts, when you look at the bidding price, clearly, there’s no preference given to Sigma Engineers Limited,” he said.
Baksh also pointed to Sigma’s work at treatment plants at Leguan and Wakenaam, particularly the latter, where he said the company had tackled high levels of ammonia in the water through research and technical expertise. He shared that the Wakenaam facility is expected to be commissioned within a month’s time.
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