Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 09, 2019 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
Mr. Freddie Kissoon (KN Sept 7) is right in his commentary that President Granger has no challenger inside the PNC (APNU). Polls show Granger as the most popular in the coalition and as such the choice for President. In the PPP, there were several candidates for the nomination of the candidacy for President.
Freddie is also right, citing anecdotal evidence, that voters are not pleased with their party’s traditional choices and as such, some will leave their parties and vote for the minor parties; voters are openly saying so. This makes it difficult for either major party to win a majority in the elections.
I conducted NACTA surveys last December, February, April, July, and August and several last year and in preceding years. Recent surveys found rising disenchantment with politicians and growing political apathy. People are simply turned off from the politics because of broken promises by politicians. Significant number of young voters and professionals of all ages and classes indicated that they will not vote or they will cast ballots for the minor parties.
Even Freddie, himself, said he will vote for the newly formed LJP. A year ago the percentage of voters for the minor parties was insignificant.
But this year since the no confidence vote and parties candidate selection, growing numbers of voters say they will vote for the minor parties. Freddie is right that APNU-AFC is haemorrhaging in support. A new young people party is likely to be launched soon; it will attract young voters. So the sooner the coalition holds the election, the greater its chance of retaining power.
On the TRPI poll, Freddie is right that TRPI has not provided much detail on its background and operations. I remember TRPI in the 1990s formed by Dr. Baytoram Ramharack and some other associates who I knew as pro-democracy activists from the US and the Caribbean.
The organisation conducted polls that were published in the 1990s in the mass media and in a journal. The founders are professionals and people of integrity – all educators and or media practitioners.
The latest TRPI survey, as reported by the media, was coordinated by Dr. Kirk Meighoo and other associates. Dr. Meighoo is a former lecturer of the University of West Indies and a political scientist. Dr. Meighoo has written a fantastic book on politics of pluralist Trinidad and is an advocate of power sharing; I recommend it to politicians. Dr. Meighoo also engages in political analysis and commentaries, and he hosts media programmes in Trinidad. He is an intellectual of proven track record.
I am also familiar with the Cadres poll that does surveys in Caribbean societies. Peter Wickham is a professional. I have no reason to question the validity of any of the polls.
Polls are conducted to determine popularity of political figures, among other outcomes or reasons. All polls conducted around the same time will yield similar findings.
I did NACTA polls around the time Cadres and TRPI were conducted polls in Guyana (in February and August). I have no reason to dispute the findings. Polls are sending a message.
I won’t bash the messenger. I will pay attention to the message. A ‘badly’ conducted poll may be better than no poll. Pollsters don’t set out to conduct a biased poll. They attempt polling to get a true reflection of views. Anyone who travels around the country can pretty much determine the likeability and popularity of political figures and parties.
There is growing disgruntlement out there for politics and politicians. It is a truism. Some people don’t like hard truths. Those who dismiss any poll’s findings do so at their own peril. Those who can’t hear will feel (their sycophantic supporters will also feel the pain) as we learn in primary school.
I encourage the media and the political parties to conduct opinion polls to gauge popular support and favorability ratings. The media in developed countries conduct polls monthly educating the nation. Guyanese Americans have access to findings of different polls in their adopted homeland almost daily and can assess which party or candidate is ahead.
Polls in Guyana will educate the public and the government on the views of the nation. Hopefully, the data of such polls will guide election campaigns so that leaders of do not repeat past political errors. If any disputes that Granger is not popular in his party’s base, conduct a poll.
Yours truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram
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