Dear Editor,
An opinion survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Associa-tion in Trinidad has found that a huge majority of the nation disapprove of the new TT $50 billion budget presented by the ruling PNM administration led by Patrick Manning. The poll found that even a majority of PNM supporters disapprove of the 2008/09 budget.

However, the good news for the incumbent PNM is despondency over the budget has not eroded support for the ruling party. People indicated that they are not impressed with the alternative of Basdeo Panday’s UNC or Winston Dookeran’s COP to rule the nation.  Thus, if another election is called now, the PNM will retain office.

Many of the voters, including large numbers who voted for the PNM last year, said they would prefer a new political outfit and they are confident such an outfit would bring political change.  Voters said they are fed up with both Panday and Manning and consider Dookeran as lacking the requisites of leadership.  They want a new leader who can bring the nation together.
The latest poll was conducted to find out opinions on current issues in Trinidad including the approval rating for the new budget. NACTA interviewed 380 voters to yield a demographically representative sample of the population.  The poll was conducted by Vishnu Bisram.

Asked if they approve of the new budget, respondents gave mixed responses saying they like some aspects while disapproving of other measures in the budget. Overall, only 17% said they approve of the budget with 22% preferring not to offer an opinion. A whopping 61% disapprove of the budget. There were complaints from virtually every sector of the population to the budget. Motorists loudly objected to the increase in price for premium gas by TT$1 per gallon – a 33% increase.  However, the budget was defended by some PNM supporters who said that the gas price in Trinidad is still a bargain compared with other CARICOM countries.

Asked if their disappointment with the budget will influence how they vote, only a small fraction (5%) of those who voted PNM in 2007 are turned off from their party but the disenchanted PNM-ites are not swinging towards the other two opposition parties.  PNM supporters said they still prefer their party if the alternative is the UNC or COP.  Voters say they are turned off by the leadership of the two opposition parties.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram