GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC -The Guyana government is “disturbed by the numerous inaccuracies, serious flaws, and significant omissions” in the Performance Audit of the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) Programme.
The report presented at the National Assembly last Thursday found the program needed to be revised. It benefitted only 16 percent of the vulnerable women who had signaled their interest in it.
However, in a lengthy statement, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security said the Audit Office of Guyana’s audit for the period January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, 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 program, unprecedented in its scope and impact, ensures that women in every region—regardless of background or circumstance—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 is a bold and transformative initiative that challenges the status quo and expands opportunities for all.”
The Ministry said 6,203 women were trained under the WIIN Programme during the period under review, surpassing the target of 6,000 persons.
“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 that although extensive documentation and information for the 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 of this program on the lives of thousands of Guyanese women. No doubt there was, and will be, room for improvement, as this is a new program, a three-year-old program, which continues to evolve and expand.”
The Ministry 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 program, 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 “these flaws” that “must be addressed to ensure a fair and accurate representation of the WIIN program’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 the audit’s conclusion that the competent authority “did not effectively monitor or evaluate the program” was 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 Ministry said that while it “acknowledges certain limitations in the program and is actively addressing them,” 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 to expand access, provide hands-on training, and ensure job readiness. Our commitment to addressing gaps is unwavering, but it must be clear that the audit’s skewed conclusions misrepresent the program’s actual progress and impact.”
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