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Only polls, not common sense, can determine popularity of politicians

Jun 04, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

Reference is made to Gaylord Riley’s missive “Potpourri – Freddie Kissoon, Vishnu Bisram and AG Nandlall” (May 24) as it relates to remarks about me. I agree with the writer that KN is the ultimate free press in Guyana carrying articles that are pro and anti-government as well as those that are objective and un-aligned.  The publisher and editor are commended!

Riley stated that unless a poll or survey was conducted, commentaries on the popularity of politicians are mere guess work. I agree! But apparently, he did not read the media regularly and did not pay heed to what he himself quoted which clearly stated that “surveys were conducted … attesting to the popularity of Irfaan, Jagdeo… ”.  Those very polls also found that the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, was extremely unpopular (even in the PNC base), and if he were the Presidential candidate of PNC, APNU and or the alliance with AFC, the PPP will win by a landslide. Clearly, the poll information were not my personal opinions but from a scientific survey of a representative sample of the population. These were previously published and are accessible in the media archive. In interviewing people, they often expressed personal views (comments) about politicians and political parties in addition to providing “yes/no” responses to questions. It is standard practice by pollsters to include some of these views (based on conversations or interviews).

Riley stated that “a poll is not needed” to determine that (President) Irfaan is more popular than (Vice President) Jagdeo among certain categories (groups) of voters and then proceeded to describe as “stupidity” and “nonsense” my claim that Irfaan is more popular than Jagdeo among certain categories of voters (such as Muslims). How then can one determine Irfaan’s support among Indians (break down by Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and others), Africans, Mixed, Amerindians, and other ethnic categories if a poll is not conducted?  In a polarized society like ours, it may be common sense to conclude that Indians will vote PPP and Africans will vote APNU. But a poll is needed to determine what percentage of each category of voters will deviate from their race (party) to cross vote especially that the nation is divided almost 50-50 between the government and opposition in elections going back to 2011. A small leakage may be enough for a political change.  The poll did find that Jagdeo has more Hindu support than Irfaan who has more Muslim support than the former.

Riley made reference to a 2008 personalized attack referring to me as “Bismuth”.  I have a degree in Chemistry and am familiar with properties of the number 83 element (Period 6, Group 15 with an atomic mass of 209 and a melting point of 271C) in the Period Table. Let me assure Riley that I have no changing form; I am quite sturdy especially when conducting opinion surveys globally as I most recently did in India in February, April, and May. I absolutely don’t need other elements to prop me up.

I agree with Riley’s comments and ratings about Attorney Anil Nandlall. I put him in the same category as among our leading legal luminaries going back the 1950s.

If Riley is of the view that Irfaan and Jagdeo are not more popular than Norton, then he can conduct a survey and release the findings.  Irfaan will crush Norton in a general election if the latter is the Presidential nominee for the opposition. If Nigel Hughes or Roysdale Forde or Amanza Desir is the nominee, then the incumbent has a battle on his hands going down to the wire – as per opinion survey, not my personal view. Voters say Hughes is the strongest among the three!

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram (PhD)

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