NACTA poll shows PM Mitchell’s party winning Grenada election

Dear Editor,

With just a few days remaining in the election campaign in Grenada, the incumbent New National Party led by Prime Minister Keith Mitchell appears headed for an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory at the polls – bucking the trend of what happened in the rest of the Caribbean (except Trinidad) in recent elections. According to a poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association, the NNP has an 11% lead in popular support over the opposition National Democratic Congress led by Tillman Thomas.  This lead in popular support will give the party a majority of seats to retain the government.

The poll finds that while the election is competitive in some seats, the NNP has the upper hand because voters trust the NNP more than they trust the NDC.  Voters fear the NDC could erase many of the gains the country has made over the last decade and appear to have bought into the NNP’s campaign slogan of ‘Let the progress continue.’

The latest opinion-tracking poll was conducted by the respected New York-based NACTA polling organization over the last week.  NACTA has been conducting polls in the Caribbean for almost 20 years and has developed an exemplary track record of being on target in its predictions.  The organization most recently predicted the victory of the incumbent PNM in Trinidad last November.

The latest Grenada poll randomly interviewed 2100 likely voters throughout the island to determine popular support for the parties and candidates. The poll is being conducted by Vishnu Bisram. The latest poll shows the NNP gaining momentum
.
According to the findings of this poll, the NNP has increased its lead over the NDC 51% to 41% from 49 to 40% in a similar poll conducted in May.  The party has gained an advantage among youths and new voters who have been attracted to the party’s youthful candidates.
A majority of voters point out that although they are not satisfied with every aspect of governance by the NNP, they say they do not wish to risk the economic gains made over the last decade by putting the reins of government into the hands of the NDC.  Many said they know what the NNP is all about but don’t know what the NDC will do if comes into office.  They fear a NDC government will govern by settling scores, seeking revenge, and restricting freedom thereby reversing the progress made by the country since Hurricane Ivan. So they prefer to stick with the NNP.

A majority of the respondents say the NNP has addressed many of their broad concerns.

The poll continues to show that Keith Mitchell has a higher favourability rating than Tillman Thomas for the post of Prime Minister 57% to 38%.

The confidence shown by a majority of voters in the ruling NNP, greater trust people have in NNP over NDC, and the higher favourability ratings of Prime Minister Mitchell over opposition leader Thomas will all help the NNP to win a resounding victory on July 8.

To form the government, a party needs 8 seats. NNP leads in nine and there is a dead heat in a couple of others. NACTA will continue to poll until election day.

Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram