$395 million approved for ‘Men on Mission’ to build 52 houses

The ‘Men on Mission’ initiative will be advanced this year with a $700 million allocation approved Monday. Of that sum, $395 million will be used to build 52 houses for vulnerable individuals across Guyana.

The $700 million was approved by the Parliamentary Committee of Supply as budgetary allocations for the Office of the President were perused on Monday.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira was pressed by Opposition Parliamentarian Volda Lawrence to disaggregate the sum. And she highlighted the numerous ventures the funds will go towards.

More than half of the figure will support ventures to build the two-bedroom houses that have been constructed over the past two years.

Outside of the sum for building houses, about $115 million will be spent on house assistance ventures and $84 million for youth empowerment and mentorship schemes. Additional sums are for special observances such as Fathers’ Day, Men’s Health Day, and International Men’s Day.

This initiative is the brainchild of President Dr. Irfaan Ali. But the funds alone weren’t scrutinised; Opposition Parliamentarians asked about the administrative structure and staffing details.

In response, Minister Teixeira highlighted that the initiative is a project under the Office of the President but it is receiving much assistance from the Guyana Defence Force currently.

For quite some time on Monday afternoon, funds allocated to current and capital spending under the Office of the President were scrutinised.

Overall, the Office of the President was allocated $12 billion. Funds for the Office of the First Lady to support Mrs. Arya Ali’s numerous ventures helping vulnerable groups and projects across the country are accounted for under this agency.