Dear Editor,
An opinion poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) in July revealed lack of support for the AFC’s no-confidence motion and the PPP’s threat of a snap poll. Voters do not think any party will get a majority in new elections. People expressed deep frustration with all three political parties.
The poll also finds significant disenchantment with the government whose rating trails President Donald Ramotar. Opposition Leader David Granger’s approval rating is almost on par with Ramotar but Granger trails Carl Greenidge as a “parliamentary debater.” Anil Nandlall, Irfaan Ali, Priya Manickchand, and Ashni Singh are viewed as the most effective ministers, as well as the leading parliamentary debaters on the government’s side. Greenidge, Moses Nagamootoo, and Rupert Roopnaraine are rated as the leading debaters on the opposition side. The findings are obtained from 580 voters yielding a demographically representative sample (43% Indians, 31% Africans, 16% Mixed, 9% Amerindians, and 1% other races) of the population. The survey was conducted at random by several interviewers. It was coordinated by Vishnu Bisram. The results of the findings were analyzed at a 95 per cent significance level; it has a sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.
Asked if they are satisfied with the performance of the government, 37% said yes with 42% saying no and 21% not offering a response. In contrast, President Ramotar’s approval rating was 41% and disapproval rating 39% with 20% not offering a rating (no response). Asked if they approve of the performance of Opposition Leader David Granger, 37% said yes, 40% no and 23% not sure.
Asked if they approve of the AFC’s no confidence motion, 59% said no, 18% said yes and 23% not sure.
Asked if they think President Ramotar should call snap elections in light of the threat of a no-confidence vote, 26% approve, 49% are opposed and 25% are not sure. Most people do not think a new election will significantly alter the parliamentary outcome. Asked if they think the AFC should join with PNC-APNU in a pre-election coalition against the PPP, 37% said yes, 52% no and 11% not sure.
Asked who they would rate as the most effective minister, Anil Nandlall (AG and Legal Affairs) leads with 16%, followed by Irfaan Ali (Housing, Tourism) 14%, Priya Manickchand (Education) 13%, Dr Frank Anthony (Youth, Sport and Culture) 11%, Dr Ashni Singh (Finance) 10%, Dr NK Gopaul (Labour) 4%, Dr Leslie Ramsammy (Agriculture) 3%, with the others trailing way behind.Asked who they would rate as the most impressive debater in Parliament on “the government’s side,” Nandlall and Gail Teixeira tie for the lead at 15%, Irfaan Ali 13%, Priya Manickchand (12%), Dr Ashni Singh 8%, Sam Hinds 5%, Juan Edghill (3%) and the others trailing way behind. Asked who they would rate as the most impressive debater on the opposition side, Carl Greenidge leads with 17%, followed by Moses Nagamootoo with 15%, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine (11%), Khemraj Ramjattan 9%, David Granger 6%, Basil Williams (3%), Joe Harmon 2%, and the others trailing behind. Asked if an election were called now, how they would vote, 45% said PPP, 39% PNC
(APNU), 5% AFC, 2% JFAP and others, and 9% saying they were undecided.
Support for Parties
Party %
PPP 45
APNU 39
AFC 05
Other 2
Undecided 09
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
