Consideration of estimates for the 2026 national budget began on Monday in the Committee of Supply in Guyana’s National Assembly, with the Office of the President (OP) being the first agency examined.
Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, appeared before the committee to defend the allocations under the Office of the President, during which questions were first raised about staffing within the Ministry and funding for the Men on Mission (MOM) programme.
Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul queried the allocation of $2.5 million for the Men on Mission initiative and asked for clarity on the programme’s operations. This is in addition to a $900 million budget under capital expenditure, mostly for the construction of homes.
Teixeira disclosed that the programme is currently being managed by four staff members.
Mahipaul, however, raised concerns about accountability and reporting, noting that reports for 2023 and 2024 were promised and that he was also seeking a report for 2025. He asked that these reports be presented to the National Assembly.
In response, Teixeira acknowledged that an error was made in not laying the reports in the Assembly. She apologized and noted that she had previously outlined details of the programme’s activities.
Mahipaul further pressed for measurable evidence of the programme’s impact, asking whether there was “hard data” to show improvements and demonstrate the effectiveness of MOM.
Teixeira responded that changing cultural norms and long-standing habits takes time and emphasized that the Men on Mission programme is aimed at transforming men’s attitudes and behaviours toward women and children.
She explained that the programme involves several workshops and community engagements and also includes outreach to vulnerable families, including efforts to assist poor households with improved housing conditions.
According to the minister, MOM is part of a wider government push across sectors such as human services and education to address social issues and improve family life.
Teixeira said she believes there has been a gradual shift in society, with less tolerance for violence than in previous years, describing what she called a “slow turn” toward rejecting abusive behaviour.
However, allocations under capital expenditure were never examined, as opposition Members of Parliament exhausted the time allotted to them while focusing solely on current expenditure.
The post With almost $1B more for MoM, Teixeira says ‘slow turn’ seen in way men treat women and children appeared first on News Room Guyana.
