Dear Editor,
An opinion survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association 9NACTA) in Trinidad finds widespread dissatisfaction with the ruling PNM government but voters are not pleased with the opposition parties. Thus, the ruling PNM is projected to win a landslide victory. The survey was conducted with interviews of 512 respondents to find out their views on current political issues.
The survey also finds that a majority of Trinis support the formation of an alliance of all opposition forces to contest the next elections against the PNM. Such an alliance is likely to defeat the PNM. The official opposition UNC supports the formation of an alliance but its break away faction, Congress of People led by former UNC leader Winston Dookeran, is against the formation of an alliance. COP says it wants nothing to do with the UNC whose leader is under a cloud of corruption charges. The poll shows that COP is not expected to win any seat in the elections due by November. The UNC led by Basdeo Panday is projected to win just a handful of seats giving the PNM a special majority that would allow it to amend the constitution. The PNM has proposed plans to amend the country’s constitution switching to an executive Presidency similar to Guyana’s.
A majority of voters (59%) express the desire for political change with most of them (53% of those interviewed) backing the formation of an opposition alliance. Some respondents are opposed to the formation of an opposition alliance saying it may lead to infighting. PNM supporters are opposed to the formation of an opposition alliance saying it would lead to the defeat of the PNM. The findings of the survey reveal that almost all the supporters of the UNC and COP applaud the efforts of the leaders of mini parties to come together to form an alliance. They urgeD the leaders of the other opposition parties to put aside their differences and form a grand coalition to contest the elections. Non-committed voters also support the concept of an opposition alliance but feel it should comprise only individuals of integrity and honesty and those who are not tainted. A majority of voters told NACTA interviewers that they will be willing to support a new political entity led by people of integrity and decency if an opposition alliance fails to materialize. Voters from across all party lines, including supporters of the ruling PNM, say they are disappointed and fed up with the way the country is being governed and that there is need for political change. They say that traditional politicians and the two major parties, PNM and UNC, have failed the country and it is now time to give non-traditional politicians a chance to provide good leadership and restore integrity in public life. Almost a quarter of the population say they are willing to back a new political entity if the opposition forces are unwilling to come together, viewing a new political entity as the only alternative to providing good governance to T&T. They feel non-political figures who are concerned about rising crime, corruption and other social ills should come together and offer a political alternative to the PNM, COP and UNC.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
