Dear Editor,

A NACTA survey conducted in November shows House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran, Opposition Leader Robert Corbin, AFC leader Raphael Trotman, and popular TV talk show host C.N. Sharma are the leading contenders as Presidential candidates for their respective political parties.  However, apart from Sharma who is unchallenged, each faces a strong challenge from within their party for the nomination.

The survey was conducted to determine preference and likeability for the major Presidential contenders within each party among the voting age population. The survey was conducted with 860 adults randomly in face-to-face interviews to constitute a demographic composition of the population (45% Indians, 31% Africans, 14% Mixed, and 10% others).  The poll was co-ordinated by Vishnu Bisram, a New York based educator who has been conducting research surveys and polls around the globe over the last twenty years including annual surveys in Guyana and Trinidad since 1992.  The latest poll has a margin of error of 4%.

According to the findings of the poll, people are badly divided over the choices available within each party to succeed President Jagdeo who is constitutionally barred from seeking another consecutive 5 year term in office when his term ends in 2011.  None of the potential successors within each party has overwhelming support, and none of them has crossed 50% support among voters suggesting that voters have a difficult time with the choices available to them from each party for the next general election.

For the ruling PPP, Speaker of the Assembly Ralph Ramkarran is the front runner but polling only 23%, followed by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud at a close 20%, Party General Secretary Donald Ramotar at 15%, and former Information Minister Moses Nagamootoo at 10% with the others trailing way behind.

For the PNC, party leader Robert Corbin is ahead at 28% closely followed by his challenger for leadership in last August’s internal election, Winston Murray, at 24% and the others trailing in the single digits.

For the AFC, Raphael Trotman gets the nod but at only 34% with Peter Ramsaroop a distant 20% and Khemraj Ramjattan trailing closely at 17%.

Many voters express dissatisfaction with the choices before them to succeed President Jagdeo when his term expires with some voters saying “lef Jagdeo right deh”. However, many of them say would like to see a female President with the names of Priya Manickchand, Deborah Backer, Sheila Holder, and Carolyn Rodrigues mentioned as potential successors.  Some respondents voiced the opinion that Dr. Joey Jagan, the son of the late President Cheddi, is the right person to govern the country after Jagdeo citing his Cheddi-like qualities as their reasons.  Some respondents say there is need for political change and that all of the opposition should come together to challenge the ruling party. It is generally believed that the PPP will win the next election against a divided opposition.

NACTA also queried voters who they consider as their favourite personality among the various party heads who are potential Presidential aspirants.  CN Sharma of the Justice For All Party tops the list with 49% followed by Donald Ramotar at 14%, Raphael Trotman at 9% and Corbin at 7%.

Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram