NACTA poll shows…
-if a PPP/C candidate
‘The President remains well liked, particularly among the rank and file PPP/C supporters who see him as a ‘performer’’
ALTHOUGH President Bharrat Jagdeo may be constitutionally barred from seeking a third term in office as President of the Republic, nearly half of the population would still like to see him re-elected for another term. This is according to opinions obtained from a nationwide poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) in July. But a third of the people oppose the idea of the President staying in office beyond his term limit. 

If Jagdeo were to be the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) presidential candidate at the next election, voters feel he would easily win re-election as they do not think the choices available from among the opposition parties can defeat him.

‘Voters on both sides of the political divide feel the PPP/C will still come out on top in the next election, even if Jagdeo is not the presidential candidate’

With the President having only two more years remaining in his term of office, NACTA polled voters on whether Jagdeo should be given another term in office, as well as to obtain their views on other current issues. The poll was conducted by Vishnu Bisram for NACTA in mid July.  The poll interviewed 780 voters to represent the demographic composition of the population, with a margin of error of 4%.

According to the findings of the poll, voters are not very excited about the presidential choices available to them from among the opposition camps, and as such do not overwhelmingly object to Jagdeo serving another term at the helm of the nation.

Asked whether Jagdeo should be allowed to seek another term as President, 47% said yes, while 31% said no, with 22% offering no responses or saying they are not sure.  Many in the ‘not-sure’ category say they will vote for Jagdeo if he were to be the candidate, suggesting he is likely to win another mandate because the alternatives are not considered viable.

The President remains well liked, particularly among the rank-and-file PPP/C supporters, who see him as a ‘performer’, while not reposing similar confidence for the President’s  colleagues in the PPP/C.  They say they find him personable and approachable. They also say they often have to seek the President’s intervention for a solution to their concerns, describing him as “a super Minister.” Some of them noted that the President often listens to their grievances and adopts a “take charge” approach in resolving their problems. One reason many voters give for supporting Jagdeo for another term is their uncertainty as to whether the other presidential aspirants will be as successful as he in maintaining “the development” policies of the last couple of decades.

Many non-PPP supporters also say they like Jagdeo personally, but are not pleased with some of his Cabinet colleagues and some individuals who surround the President.  They believe the President should make some changes.

Those who oppose the idea of the President serving another term feel he has served his time  and should allow others to have a chance at being elected to office.

In general, voters say if Jagdeo were the PPP/C candidate for the 2011 election, he would comfortably win re-election over a divided opposition.  Voters feel the opposition parties, individually, are too weak to defeat the PPP/C, and do not view them as alternatives. Voters on both sides of the political divide feel the PPP/C will still come out on top in the next election, even if Jagdeo is not the presidential candidate.

The poll also quizzed voters on their support for the various presidential aspirants.  The findings will be released in a subsequent report.