Dear Editor,

An opinion survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association earlier this month in Trinidad has found widespread disenchantment with the political parties with voters saying they would like the formation of a new political outfit that can unite the divided nation.

The poll found that voters are upset with the government over the imposition of a new property tax as well as a controversial state construction agency, Udecott. But the ruling party remains more attractive to voters than the opposition. And Prime Minister Patrick Manning remains more popular than Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday for the post of Prime Minister.

The latest NACTA poll interviewed 580 likely voters to yield a demographically (38% Afros, 42% Indos, 18% Mixed and 2% others) representative sample of the population.  The poll has a margin of error of 4%.

The findings are not flattering to any of the parties with opposition supporters calling for the formation of a new political movement to take the country forward.

Asked if they approve of this year’s budget, only 16% said yes with 72% saying no citing strong opposition to the new property tax.

Asked if they approve of the government’s handling of Udecott, only 26% said yes with 58% saying no.

Asked if they approve of how the country is being governed, only 30% said yes as compared with 56% who said no and 14% who offered “no comment” and or no response.

Asked if their disenchantment with the government will influence them to shift their support to the opposition, traditional PNM supporters said the opposition parties are not an alternative because they do not have their house in order. Disenchanted PNM-ites want their party to roll back the tax or exempt the poor from it.

Traditional opposition supporters are angry with the leadership of the UNC and COP viewing Panday and Dookeran as liabilities to their parties and obstacles to the opposition coming together. If the opposition were to unite, it will give the PNM a run for its money at the next election. However, supporters of COP indicated they don’t want Panday as leader of a united opposition and UNC supporters don’t want Dookeran as its leader. Opposition supporters feel Panday should step aside and hold internal elections to choose a new executive and Dookeran should make way for more dynamic leadership of COP. Many of the voters, including all those disenchanted with Manning, Panday and Dookeran, said they would prefer a new political outfit led by a youthful person.

When asked who they prefer as Prime Minister if the choice were Manning, Panday or Dookeran, voters repose greater faith in Manning who scored 32% to Panday’s 16% and Dookeran’s 14%.

Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram