Dear Editor,
An opinion poll conducted by NACTA in Trinidad has found that the ruling party has slipped in popularity since the election of November 2007. A large majority of voters said they are dissatisfied with the way T&T is being governed. However, the good news for the incumbent PNM party is that voters do not view the opposition UNCA led by Basdeo Panday or the COP led by Winston Dookeran as alternatives to the ruling PNM. Voters praise the opposition for current efforts to hold the government accountable for its questionable transactions, but they also overwhelmingly support Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s decision to conduct a commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption in the state construction agency UDECOTT. However, they feel the government is moving too slowly into the UDECOTT investigation and want all the evidence related to the inquiry to be protected. And as in Guyana, voters also complain about rising crime and the cost of living.
The poll was conducted to find out peoples’ opinions on a variety of current issues impacting on the nation. The survey interviewed 510 people to reflect the demographic composition of the population and was conducted by New York-based pollster Vishnu Bisram.
Asked what is the most important problem facing the nation, almost everyone (81%) complained about high cost of living and/or crime. They feel the government needs to take a more activist approach in going after criminals.
According to the findings of the poll, voters overwhelmingly back Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s decision to launch a Commission of Inquiry into UDECOTT with some praising him for bowing to popular pressure to investigate corruption allegations of his government and not burying them under the carpet like his predecessor. 69% said they supported the inquiry as opposed to only 19% who said no and 12% who answered “not sure.”
Asked if they approve of the way the country is being governed, 32% said yes as opposed to 53% who said no and 15% not sure. Many people complain they are not benefiting from the oil wealth. Also, supporters of the PNM want the ruling party to reform its image. They complain about the fall-out from the dismissal of former Minister Keith Rowley and allegations of corruption levelled against UDECOTT by Rowley and the Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence. Supporters of the opposition shower praise on the Chief Whip for holding the government accountable in the UDECOTT affair, for sending the entire government to the Privileges Committee for not answering questions in a timely manner, and for pressuring the government to address other aspects of governance such as rising crime. People say they are impressed with aspects of the performance of the current parliamentary opposition which has projected greater strength than the opposition of the last parliament.
The findings show that supporters of UNCA and Congress of the People overwhelmingly endorse unity under a credible leader who is not tainted and who can bring healing to the opposition and to the nation at large.
Opposition supporters say Panday has served the party well and it is time for him to prepare the party for succession. With Panday’s legal troubles, it is felt he will not be able to carry any opposition to victory in the polls and that he should make way for new leadership.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
