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We need polls, if made public to represent a true sample of the Guyanese people
Dear Editor,
The majority of the Guyanese public depends on the independent presses of Kaieteur News and SN for non-partisan journalism and integrity of published reports. So far these two presses have served Guyana admirably despite adversities and often under most trying circumstances.
Reasonably, Guyanese would like to ask the owners and editors of both Kaieteur News and SN to agree on a protocol (let’s call it, Standard Requirements for Publishing Polls in Guyana’s Independent Newspapers) for publishing polls concerning Guyana and its affairs. Since polls can influence the body politics, they should be carefully and properly executed. We need polls, if made public via Kaieteur News or SN, to represent a true sample of the Guyanese people. In addition, we should know what poll questions were asked and how the conclusions were reached.
For polls to be published in Kaieteur News and SN, the pollster should strictly meet the following conditions and guidelines. If these conditions (all) are not met then the polls should not be published.
The conditions and guidelines to be met are:
(1) The name, location and qualifications of the head pollster. A contact telephone number for the lead pollster must be made available so that he/she can be contacted.
(2) The polling organisation’s website with details of itself as well as all the contributing participants.
(3) Poll questions and answers in tabulated form along with statistical results, % error in the poll and bias in the poll.
(4) The protocols are published on website. Details should include: how is the sample of the poll determined, the location of the people doing the poll, the location of the sample (people in the poll), and how they were contacted (by telephone, on the street in Guyana etc.).
(5) Who has commissioned the polls and/or making financial contributions towards the polling organisation and its staff?
If these basic requirements are agreed upon by the owners and editors of Kaieteur News and SN then these Standard Requirements for Publishing Polls in Guyana’s Independent Newspaper would eliminate most of questions about integrity and political partisanship of the pollster and the polls.
Anand Daljeet
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