Dear Editor,
An opinion survey conducted in mid-July by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) has found that Assembly Speaker Ralph Ramkarran and former Minister Moses Nagamootoo are the most liked and least disliked politicians respectively among PPP presidential hopefuls, with the highest favourability ratings for the next election. They are well liked not only among traditional PPP supporters but also among many supporters of other political parties. The poll also finds mixed views on whether the delegates to the PPP Congress this weekend should address the issue of who should be the party’s presidential and prime ministerial candidates.
NACTA is a New York-based polling and research group with no affiliation with any political party and has been conducting opinion surveys regularly in the Caribbean on social and political issues. The latest survey was conducted in mid-July to find out peoples’ views on a host of current issues. The latest survey interviewed 602 individuals (272 Indians, 186 Africans, 84 Mixed, 60 others) representing the diversity of the population. It was co-ordinated by Vishnu Bisram, a political scientist, pollster, educator and newspaper columnist in New York.
Asked if they think the delegates to this weekend’s PPP Congress should discuss the process in which the party’s prime ministerial and presidential candidates should be selected, 41% said yes, 33% said no, and 26% said they were not sure.
According to NACTA’s latest survey, House Speaker Ramkarran and former Minister Nagamootoo share the honours for the most likeable presidential hopefuls in the ruling PPP for the next election due in 2011. Voters were asked if their opinion of several PPP stalwarts was positive (favourable) or negative (unfavourable) or if they didn’t know enough (Not Sure) of the person to form an overall opinion.
The positive and negative rating of an individual is not the same as the person’s job performance approval rating but rather how the public views the individual in general. The positive and negative ratings of an individual give an indication of how well liked a person is or his or her “electability.” It is a standard measurement device of presidential candidates in America. The higher the negative rating, the lower the chance of getting elected and vice versa. Generally speaking, politicians with very high positive ratings are well liked and those with high negative ratings are not liked, reducing their prospect of carrying a party to victory in an election.
In the case of the PPP politicians people were polled about, Ramkarran had the highest favourable (positive) rating at 63% while his nearest rival Nagamootoo has the lowest negative rating. Ramkarran has a negative rating of 25% while Nagamootoo has a lower negative rating of 22% and a favourable rating of 60%. Since the poll has a margin of error of 4%, Ramkarran and Nagamootoo are in a statistical dead heat for likeability.
They are trailed by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud with a positive rating of 52% and negative of 34%, PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar with a positive of 49% and a negative of 32, and Culture Minister Frank Anthony with a 47% positive and 30% negative rating.
In rating Ramkarran as the most liked presidential prospect of the ruling party, respondents (of all races) describe him as a politician of integrity and honesty who believes in fair play and good governance. The name is widely respected throughout society. People speak fondly of his late father, Boysie. People of all races praise Ralph Ramkarran for his unbiased, impartial and non-partisan rulings as Speaker in the Parliament. Africans describe him as non-racial and trustworthy. People from the urban areas, the middle and business classes as well as the educated sections of the society consider him as the best presidential prospect of the PPP aside from Bharrat Jagdeo who is barred from seeking a third term. They feel Ramkarran will help to bring healing to the nation.
Nagamootoo also has high positives because of his likeability among the PPP grass roots where he is very popular for his incorruptibility and standing up for the rights of the working class and the poor. Many Africans say they like Nagamootoo because they don’t view him as “racial,” the way they view several other presidential prospects. Although not a minister, Nagamootoo is still held in high esteem among PPP supporters with many saying if he is not the presidential candidate, he should be given prominence in the party’s election line-up. Many PPP supporters are pleased that he is back in contention for the leadership post but it is universally believed that the PPP leadership will not consent to Nagamootoo as its presidential candidate.
Minister Persaud earns his positives from his high profile work as Minister of Agriculture, especially among rural party supporters. Farmers like him. Young people also like him but he does not have wide appeal across party lines, among urban dwellers, and the middle and business classes.
Donald Ramotar is well liked among the party’s rank and file but does not attract high favourable responses from the middle and business classes and among supporters of other parties. Many people feel Ramotar comes across as “too rugged” and that he needs to sharpen his image to appear more presidential.
With regards to Minister Frank Anthony, many people say he is “incorruptible and decent but too green.” Many say they don’t really know him well but they admire him as a role model for the youths.
Readers are cautioned that a positive rating is not the equivalent of political support for a prospective candidate in an election, and the negative rating is not the equivalent of the number of people who will not support a candidate.
Do you think the delegates to the PPP’s Congress should discuss the process in which the party’s prime ministerial and presidential candidates should be selected? In %
Yes No Not Sure
41 33 26
Table 2: Positives and Negatives in % of PPP prospective presidential candidates:
Individual Pos Neg Not Sure
R. Ramkarran 63 25 12
M. Nagamootoo 60 22 18
R. Persaud 52 34 14
D. Ramotar 49 32 19
F. Anthony 47 30 23
The poll has a margin of error of approximately 4%
Part 1:
Racial Breakdown of People Polled
Race Number Percentage
Indian 272 45
African 186 31
Mixed 84 14
Others 60 10
Total 602 100
Do you think the disciplined forces are doing enough to control crime? in %
Yes No Not Sure Other
27 55 6 12
Other = the people need to cooperate with forces to fight crime
Are you satisfied with the way the country is being governed? In %
Yes No Balanced Not Sure
28 52 13 7
Part 2:
Do you think that the independent media are being harassed by the government? In %
Yes No Not Sure
14 64 22
Do you think the court should have granted Sharma’s request to return to the air while it addresses the legal issues pertaining to the President’s suspension? In %
Yes No Not Sure
76 8 16
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
Mr. Bisram has provided a lot of detail about this poll and I conclude it is credible.
However, I fear the letter above is likely to drive Frederick Kissoon one step closer to the asylum.
Why don’t you take on Kissoon in a one on one debate?
You surely will be closer to the asylum.
……. if the PPP will not admit that the best choice for the next person to be president of GY ,, is Nagamootoo ! then ,,NAGAMOOTOO should run as an independent,,, or the berbice voters should boycoot the polls and allow the pnc to do what they did for 28 years ,, ! the mere mention of persaud and the others is
adding fuel to the ” fyah “…….
Can you say what was worst during the PNC’s 28 years than the past 16 years? For one, I cannot remember seeing the amount of death and distress experienced over the last 16. And don’t tell me it is merely the lack of free and fair elections.
i think the best candiate is hamilton green,he is looking for an opportunity to redeam himself.
Who, when, where and how did Bisram conduct this “poll”?
Yasuman71 – People like you see Freddie Kissoon, CN Sharma, Stabroek News and Kaieture News as an obstacle in your way. For all the above mention reporters they have been doing a fabulous job in keeping the people up-to-date on the current situation and told truth and noting but the truth.
The PPP Government Blaming the PNC for their mistakes- its about time that they take responsibility for 16th years for misstatement. Like Freddie Kissoon said in one of his article – Burnham may be laughing at the way they fought him and as it turn out although with modern technology the PPP Government still going back from the 60’s. For 16th years this Government still living in the past. What an experience for the younger generation.
Guyana is on the move
I have been back in Guyana for about three weeks now after an absence of 11 ½ years and my God, I am surprised!
While I had qualms, given the reports of crime which I read about online, I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised with what has met my eyes!
I had to exclaim to my relatives when I saw the new road we travelled on, the East Bank road; it’s great to know that Guyana has moved away from the pothole syndrome to excellent road and free flowing traffic! I felt better as we approached the town and as my relative drove along Regent street, I was even more surprised when I saw the huge buildings going up. My first thought was that businesses have to be flourishing.
Guyana, a little known country is fast moving along and I feel proud to know that this country’s development is not being stymied.
As I was on the ferry crossing the Berbice river en route to my relatives’ home, I was further amazed when I saw the bridge being erected over the river. This is surely modernisation for the ancient county. This will definitely help my fellow Berbicans to develop faster.
I haven’t yet gotten to see other parts of the country, but I am satisfied with what I have experienced so far.
Guyana is on the move and it is evident. only the forgetful would deny this.
just william
Go to Linden and tell me the same story, Justwilliam! No one said that new buildings were not erected, no one said there are not new infrastructures. Those buildings are developed by private entrepreneurs.
Your relatives probably don’t suffer from VAT, because, maybe, you take care of them. So, you can be satisfied all you want; it does not change the reality of the difficult times people in Guyana are up against.
In addition, the crime rate is atrocious! Maybe if you had experience, like so many visiting or non resident Guyanese, an attack; you would not have been so inclined to contradict what you read online.
Wow justwilliam was given rose tinted sun glasses as he toured slected areas.
It’s a pity you did not ask the right questions and speak to a wide section of the people who are really living in hell under this regime.
At the end of your stay you will go back to your pretty life in the good old US of A, but the people and communities that are being left to fend for themselves will still be there.
Even in hell, you can find one oasis.
Vishie Bai poll didn’t influence Kaang-ress one bit. Ignoring Bharratji (who can’t run again ) and Janet Nani (who can’t run), Kaang-ress put Frankiji No1, Donaldji No 2, Moses the prophet No 5 and Ralph Mamu No. 22. Wrang again Vishie Bai! A Presidential candidate with an English name!
Bis you wrong all over this time boy. By now you must have seen the actual figures from the congress. You should listen to Freddie and start revealing some information about NACTA to regain your crediability or people will start ignoring your polls. No one can ‘telegraph ‘ the move of the PPP supporters. I know, I have been there.
….. during the 28 years ,, those who now chant ” marginalisation ” along with all the other ills perceived only by them ! was /is of their own making ,,and now it’s coming back to haunt them ,, i tell ya ! KARMA ! is a bitch !
it was during the middle late 70s and all up to the 90s where the corruption was being honed to the art form it has now taken ,, the large scale ” importation ” of ganja from Jamaica ,, and then to the next level of cocaine paste (unrefined) from columbia to manaus thru boa vista to lethem and to gt,,,,, — two of the brothers who claimed they have political coverage for their activities with the barrels and suitcases of ganja from jamaica ! are now “guests” of the FEDs in one of their insttutions in Florida ,, it will b interesting to see how rohee,,, — is he still the home affairs manager ???? i demanded his removal yesterday ! my demand was probably axed by SN ! as i think this will —,, will handle them when they are reintegrated back into the society after 20 years !,,, the drug movement is still happening in GY ,, as is evident from the daily reports of mules who are apprehended ! their arrests are screens for others to pass unhindered ,, but the movement have been drastically curtailed ,, hence the anger that feeds the violence ,, mayhem and,, murder ! if ure too young to know ,,
So what if the chant “marginalisation” now? Isn’t that what it is, bgsbny?
During those 28 years, we had respected leadership! We had a Police Force that could be relied on. We had an army who treated its personnel with discipline. We had criminals who were afraid of getting caught. We had the best intelligence gathering units in the Caribbean. We also had an inclusive government.
Could criminals dare think of assualting a police outpost? I don’t think so! Who ever you are, there is NOTHING to COMPARE!
Despite Mr. Burnham’s mistakes (he made some), he was a giant comparison to who and what we had ever since!
You are consumed with so much anger,justwilliam is simply sharing the highlights of his visit, take it easy you gon give yourself a heart attack.
How do you define ANGER, my friend? If Jagdeo (even though he is younger) don’t get a heart attack for all the venom and contempt he has for the press; I won’t gtbeat!
Maybe you are right. That maybe the case in Linden. But dont forget, a community can only see development if its people wants it to.