Bisram conducts surveys on LGE

Dec 10, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Recent surveys I conducted found that the PPP will win by a landslide next March Local Government Elections (LGE), making significant gains even in PNCR strongholds in urban and rural constituencies. If the elections were held now, the PPPC would win an overwhelming number of the 70 NDCs and a majority of the 10 municipalities. The poll projection is turning out to be the largest electoral victory of the party in local government elections in the history of the country with voters giving high favorability ratings to Ali’s leadership in contradistinction with Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton who scores very low on popularity ratings. These were some of the findings of tracking opinion polls conducted in December, November, and October.

The latest polls interviewed between 520 and 640 voters to reflect the ethnic composition of the population with a margin of error of 4%. The latest surveys (from October thru December) show consistency in relatively high favorability (likeability or popularity) and job performance ratings of President Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and Prime Minister Mark Phillips. All have maintained constantly high positive and job performance ratings in the 60s percentile in contrast with Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton whose likeability or popularity and job performance ratings were consistently in the low 30s or upper 20s. The polls find nil crossover appeal for Norton among Indians and floating voters, accounting for his poor ratings. Voters overwhelmingly prefer Ali and the PPPC over the PNCR.

The public does not view the PNCR or the APNU-AFC Coalition under Norton’s leadership as a viable alternative to the PPPC. The populace say that his recent actions demonstrates that he lacks the leadership qualities to bring people together. They say they are looking for a leader who is personable and conciliatory, who would pursue consensus politics, and who would put an end to political violence, confrontational politics, and ethnic divisiveness. Not surprisingly, many traditional supporters and middle of the road floating voters are moving away from the party that may lead to its decimation or blow away in the coming LGE.

Local Government Elections (LGE) are scheduled for March and electoral fortune could change by then especially that a new Georgetown based political party, Independent Citizens for Progress (ICP), was launched last week. Led by well-known broadcaster Bobby Vieira, ICP is gaining traction in Georgetown, a PNCR stronghold, among the middle class and business and professional classes. The ICP is also talked about among Indian businesspersons who are seeking different leadership for Georgetown. The PNCR, therefore, is likely to lose several seats coming LGE that it won in 2018. The PPPC is a beneficiary making gains in traditional PNC base.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram