The Parliamentary Committee of Supply has approved a $900 million allocation for the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative under the Office of the President for 2026. The approval followed a heated exchange between Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, and Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul over the program’s lack of formal reporting and rising administrative costs.
MoM, a flagship initiative of President Dr. Irfaan Ali launched in 2022, is designed to mentor men and youth while addressing social issues such as domestic violence and housing for the vulnerable.
The Housing Focus and “Four Staff” Management
Minister Teixeira clarified that the bulk of the $900 million allocation is earmarked for capital expenditure, specifically for the construction and rehabilitation of homes for the elderly and impoverished families.
Key Program Details:
- Staffing: The program is currently managed by just four staff members.
- Administrative Costs: A point of contention arose when Mahipaul noted that while $14.8 million was paid to two staff members last year, a single staff member is budgeted to receive $13 million in 2026.
- Core Mission: Teixeira defended the program as a vital tool for “changing cultural norms,” focusing on workshops aimed at transforming men’s attitudes toward women and children.
“Apology for the Error”: The Missing Reports
The debate grew sharp when MP Mahipaul pointed out that despite repeated promises, the government has failed to lay the MoM annual reports for 2023 and 2024 before the National Assembly.
“Reports for 2023 and 2024 were promised but were never delivered,” Mahipaul stated, demanding that the 2025 report also be tabled to ensure transparency in how nearly a billion dollars is being spent.
Minister Teixeira admitted to the oversight, acknowledging that an “error was made” in not formally laying the reports and apologizing to the Committee. She assured lawmakers that the documents would be provided to the House to demonstrate the measurable impact of the initiative.
Measuring Success: Hard Data vs. Behavioral Change
The Opposition pressed for “hard data” to prove that the initiative is effectively reducing social ills. Minister Teixeira countered that behavioral change is a long-term process that cannot always be captured in immediate statistics.
- Outreach: The program has completed dozens of homes across all ten administrative regions.
- Mentorship: Thousands of men have participated in “Men’s Health” and “Fatherhood” seminars.
- Community Impact: MoM has been instrumental in rapid-response cleaning and maintenance exercises in urban areas.
Summary of Office of the President (OP) Approvals
The MoM allocation was part of a wider set of approvals for the Office of the President on Monday, which also included:
- Office of the First Lady: $180 million (primarily for the “Menstrual Hygiene” and “Beautification” projects).
- Information Technology: Funding for the expansion of the “One Guyana” digital ID project.
- Security: Budgetary support for the Presidential Guard and national intelligence services.
