GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Oct 14, CMC -The Guyana government says it is “disturbed by the numerous inaccuracies, serious flaws and significant omissions” contained in the Performance Audit of the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) Programme.
The report, which was laid in the National Assembly last Thursday, found the programme to be highly flawed, benefitting only 16 per cent of the vulnerable women who had signaled their interest in it.
But in a lengthy statement, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security said the audit for the period January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022 by the Audit Office of Guyana is flawed and inaccurate.
It said since its launch in 2021, WIIN has revolutionized access to training for women across Guyana, offering the first-ever free hybrid model with zero entry requirements.
“This programme, unprecedented in its scope and impact, ensures that women in every region – regardless of background or circumstanc – can gain valuable skills through the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute.
“WIIN directly aligns with this Government’s unwavering commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, breaking down barriers that have long kept many women from opportunities for advancement. It stands as a bold and transformative initiative that challenges the status quo and expands opportunities for all.”
The ministry said during the period under review, 6,203 women were trained under the WIIN Programme, surpassing the target of 6,000 persons for that period.
“With an investment of GUY$185.5 million (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) over two years, including GUY$64 million allocated to WIIN in 2021, the initiative focused on strategically training women in several areas which are needed in the country and aligned to diverse sectoral initiatives to drive women’s empowerment and economic independence.”
The ministry said thet although extensive documentation and information for the said period were provided, “it is disappointing that the report contains many unsubstantiated conclusions. “It begs the question as to whether the report is framed negatively to diminish the tangible impact that this programme has on the lives of thousands of Guyanese women. No doubt there was, and will be room for improvement, as this is a new programme, a three-year-old, programme, which continues to evolve and expand.”
The MInstry said that while the report acknowledges the significant progress made since WIIN’s inception,” it undermines these achievements with skewed, overly negative conclusions.
“Instead of giving due credit to the transformative impact of this programme, the report distorts the narrative, diminishing the strides made and failing to recognize the full scope of WIIN’s success.”
The government said it is “crucial to correct the inaccurate and misleading conclusions presented in this report” outlining a lengthy rebuttal to what it considered of “these flaws” that “ must be addressed to ensure a fair and accurate representation of the WIIN programme’s impact and progress”.
It said the claim that the certificates awarded are of “no value” is based on an anecdotal reference from a single individual.
“This isolated opinion does not reflect the legitimacy of the certification, which was conducted through respected educational bodies.”
The ministry said that the audit’s conclusion that the competent authrity “did not effectively monitor or evaluate the programme is premature.
“Despite some database inconsistencies, robust systems were in place for tracking participants and supporting their progress. The Ministry remains committed to strengthening these efforts for better outcomes.”
The minstry said that while it “acknowledges certain limitations in the programme and is actively addressing them, however, the audit’s conclusions are fundamentally flawed, based on incomplete and, in many cases, inaccurate information.
“The audit fails to capture the full scope of the Ministry’s efforts, overlooking key improvements made to expand access, provide hands-on training, and ensure job readiness. Our commitment to addressing any gaps is unwavering, but it must be made clear that the audit’s skewed conclusions misrepresent the programme’s actual progress and impact.”
CMC/gt/ir/2024