Evidence needed for Jagdeo/PPP’s unpopularity

Mar 11, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor, My friend Freddie Kissoon questions the findings of NACTA’s many polls showing the PPP and President Jagdeo “popular” while calling on the AFC, PNCR and WPA to investigate my academic credentials and employment (Kaieteur News, March 4). I have already addressed Mr. Kissoon’s query about my education and employment even though I don’t think either has any relationship with polling but somehow Kissoon, who knows nothing about polls seems to feel so. It is within Mr. Kissoon’s right to query the popularity of the President and the PPP. However, he must submit evidence to dispute NACTA’s poll’s findings or his counter claims of the unpopularity of the President and the PPP. Merely stating his personal views about the President’s support is not evidence. The latter comes from elections results or other polls. And apart from Dick Morris polls (and Frank Luntz), which Freddie touted, but which was grossly inaccurate and the Cadres poll from a year ago (which incorrectly used 30% Indians in the sample), there are no others to go by. So let us look at the evidence from election results as measured against the NACTA polls findings. The 1990 TRPI poll found the PPP winning the election with Kissoon’s party WPA registering less than 2% in voter support. Kissoon went berserk demolishing the poll saying his estimate showed the WPA coming second behind the PPP which, according to him, would not get a majority, and the PNC not getting double figures. As it turned out the poll was right and Kissoon was wrong as the 1992 election showed the WPA barely made one seat and the PNC got 42% with the PPP winning 53%. Kissoon also disputed the findings of subsequent polls done by Vishnu Bisram. In 1997, NACTA found the PPP winning 55% in its poll and it did with the PNC winning 41% and the WPA 2% as the poll estimated. In 2001, NACTA found President Jagdeo popular among voters projecting 51% for the PPP. The party won 52% and the PNC 41%. So the poll was right. In 2006, NACTA found the PPP winning a landslide victory. Kissoon disputed the findings again saying Dick Morris poll was more credible. Morris and Kissoon predicted the AFC would run second and could beat the PPP. NACTA said AFC had no chance to win the election. The election showed the PPP won 55% and AFC 6% with PNC 35%. Subsequent annual NACTA polls showed PPP ahead of other parties for this year’s elections. Kissoon disputes the findings again offering his own estimates of Jagdeo’s unpopularity not based on scientific evidence of a survey. If Kissoon were a qualified academic, he would not make foolish statements. If President Jagdeo is so unpopular and the NACTA poll is wrong, can Kissoon please educate us how Jagdeo and the PPP were able to win free and fair elections? A poll is only an estimate at a particular time. It is not ordained in heaven. It is a reflection of peoples’ views, not Kissoon’s views. It’s scientific and once objective gives highly accurate results. The fact that NACTA has always been right in Guyana in its assessment shows the objectivity and professionalism of the polls and the organisations. Unlike Kissoon, Vishnu Bisram’s personal opinions do not enter into the poll’s findings. Kissoon says the PPP will lose this year’s election projecting the PNCR and or the AFC would win. He may be right, but give us the evidence of polls to back the claim. Vishnu Bisram

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Evidence needed for Jagdeo/PPP’s unpopularity

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