Dear Editor,
The findings of a NACTA poll conducted in late November among UNC supporters show that if the party were to have a free and fair election for control of the executive, a slate led by incumbent leader Basdeo Panday would be resoundingly defeated by a slate led by deputy leader Jack Warner or former deputy Ramesh Maharaj – together dubbed RamJack who have been challenging Panday to hold internal election over the last year.
The UNC supporters want a change in leadership and Panday will lose to Warner or Maharaj or another deputy Kamla Persad Bissessar in a one to one contest. But opposition supporters are not hopeful that the election will be free and fair saying they fear it will be manipulated to result in a victory for a slate led by Panday. Ramesh announced he was seeking the leadership and Kamla, a loyalist of Panday, after hesitating for two weeks, announced she would also throw her hat in the ring for leadership.
Opposition supporters say Panday has served his time and cannot take the
UNC any further and as such he should exit the political scene to make way for new leadership that will give his party a viable chance at the next election.
Supporters of the opposition feel Panday is the cause of the UNC being out of government because of what they described as his many blunders when he was Prime Minister. The also blame him for the declining electoral fortunes of the party since his public fight with Ramesh in the 2001 internal elections which Ramesh won against Panday for control of the party.
Almost all UNC supporters said they do not believe the UNC will ever return to office under Panday’s leadership. Opposition supporters also blame Panday for the division among the opposition and say as long as he is leader of the UNC, the opposition will not unite to fight the PNM.
The poll, conducted in late November, interviewed 324 individuals who
identified themselves as UNC supporters to determine support for the two
potential slates — pro-Panday and pro-Ramjack slate — in the internal elections of the UNC. The poll has a margin of error of 6%.
The poll finds that every voter is pleased with Panday for agreeing to
hold an internal election to choose an executive to steer the direction of the party but few feel he should seek re-election as leader saying he should make way for his challengers Kamla or Ramesh.
Asked which slate they prefer to win the internal elections of the UNC,
the RamJack slate defeats the Panday slate 61% to 27% with 12% offering no response. Voters express some cross voting preference indicating a likeness for Kamla if she were a candidate for a deputy leader post in a Panday-led slate indicating she could survive a RamJack onslaught against a Panday-led slate for control of the executive. Voters also feel Kamla could defeat Panday for leadership in a one to one contest in a clean election.
Separately, at the UNC Convention on Nov 29, a NACTA random survey found
62% of attendees interviewed, back Panday for leadership.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
