The following is the full text of a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Monday in response to a letter that is circulating in the media regarding the recruitment of foreign healthcare workers:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation refers to a letter addressed to Sigma Engineers Ltd. Inc dated 5 February 2024, that is being circulated in the media regarding the recruitment of Bangladesh healthcare workers.

The Ministry in response to a request from Sigma Engineers Ltd., issued the letter to confirm that the agency was authorised to recruit healthcare workers, with the view to addressing concerns raised both by the public and private sectors on the severe skills shortage in the health sector. The Private Sector Commission has on numerous occasions requested the Government’s assistance in addressing the need to fill the skills shortages not only in the health sector but also in the critical sectors of construction, engineering, and services given the expansion and growth of Guyana’s economy.

In this regard, the recruitment agency was appointed to liaise with relevant authorities from various countries to recruit healthcare workers including, but not limited to Bangladesh. It is within this context that the authorisation letter was issued by the ministry to prevent issues such as human trafficking or any abuse of this process.

The ministry wishes to confirm that to date, no one has been recruited through Sigma Engineers Ltd. Inc as shortages are currently being filled by personnel from Cuba.

The Government of Guyana remains open to the recruitment of specialised skills which do not currently exist in Guyana from any part of the globe, for both the public and private sectors.