Dear Editor,
An opinion poll conducted in Trinidad earlier this month by the NACTA polling outfit shows Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday is still viewed as the strongest opposition politician in the nation to engage the ruling PNM in battles. The poll was conducted to find out people’s views about the leadership credentials of the three contenders for the post of leader of the UNC which holds internal elections on January 24 to choose a leader and an executive to run the party over the next two years. Only party members, numbering about 35,000, can vote.
Panday is being challenged by his former deputy leader Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, who was dismissed from Panday’s cabinet in 2001 because of his anti-corruption crusade, and current deputy leader Kamla Persad Bissessar, who has stood with Panday against Maharaj on the corruption issue.
Although opposition supporters think he has lost support with his several blunders while he was Prime Minister, they still view Panday as the strongest person to engage the PNM in battles on behalf of the opposition with Maharaj providing the best representation to his constituents. And while Kamla is viewed as the weakest of the three in leadership credentials, she is seen as having the best public relations with mass appeal. NACTA interviewed 448 voters representing the demographics of the population.
Asked if their Member of Parliament has been servicing their constituency, Ramesh has the highest rating scoring 84% with Panday at 36% and Kamla at 22%. Voters complain that they hardly saw Kamla and Bas in their constituencies.
Asked which of the three contenders they thought has fought the most to bring change and reform the UNC, Maharaj again trumps the other two. Some 69% of all respondents interviewed felt Ramesh fought the most to bring about change in the UNC followed by Kamla at 13% and Bas at 12%. In fact, almost every respondent credits Ramesh and Chaguanas West M.P Jack Warner (dubbed RamJack) as being responsible for the UNC holding internal elections pointing out that Kamla did not support the battle waged by RamJack to have internal elections to choose a new executive. Kamla had consistently stated there was no need for change in the UNC.
Asked who they feel will be the strongest leader to engage in battles against the PNM, Panday leads with 47% with Ramesh at 34% and Kamla trailing way behind at 11%.
Asked who they felt will be the best leader to fight corruption, Ramesh prevails with 76% followed by Kamla at 11%. Many respondents noted that Ramesh sacrificed his career as Attorney General speaking out against corruption after Panday fired him for his outspokenness.
Asked who they perceive as having the best public image, Kamla scores 49% followed by Bas at 23% and Ramesh at 21%. African and Mixed respondents, in particular, like Kamla although they are noncommittal on whether they will vote for the UNC were she to lead it in a general election.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
