Dear Editor,
According to the findings of an opinion survey conducted by NACTA earlier this month, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar remains very popular but her government’s popularity has slipped since a similar poll conducted in July. Among other reasons, the poll finds that the government has lost points over its handling of insurance giant Clico, the flat economy, delayed appointments to state boards, and crime. People say that the government is responding to crises instead of being proactive, and they complain about runaway crime and rising cost of living.
The findings of the poll are obtained from intercept interviews with 505 respondents (43% Indians, 37% Africans, 18% Mixed, and 2% Others) to reflect the demographic composition of the population. The survey was supervised by Vishnu Bisram.
The poll finds that nearly six months after being at the helm, Kamla still enjoys widespread support among all ethnic groups and strata of society and is more popular than all her ministers and the government as a unit. Voters still have faith in her and the government.
Asked if they were satisfied with the performance of the Peoples Partnership government so far, 55% said yes (a slip of 9% from a July poll) with 32% saying no and 13% offering no response.
Asked whether they approve or disapprove of Kamla’s performance as PM, 69% said yes with 23% saying no and 8% offering no response.
Asked if they approve of the performance of Dr Keith Rowley as Opposition Leader, 39% said yes with 42% saying no and 19% offering no response.
Asked what is the most important problem facing the nation, 51% said crime followed by 21% who said cost of living, 8% infrastructure (flooding), and others 20%.
Asked if they approve of the performance of the Leader of Government Business, 65% answered in the affirmative with 24% saying no and 11% no response. Asked if they approve of the performance of the Opposition’s Chief Whip, 34% said yes with 39% saying no and 27% offering no response.
Asked if the country is going in the right or wrong direction, 60% said right with 30% saying wrong direction and 10% offering no response.
Asked if they approve of the recent job actions (wildcat strikes) of the public service unions, 28% answered positively with 55% answering in the negative and 17% offering no response. The majority of respondents are sympathetic with the government saying it does not have funds to meet the pay demands of the union. The government is operating on a budget deficit of TT$8 billion and must also come up with $19 billion owed to Clico policyholders, $500 million to HCU depositors, and $1 billion to contractors.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
