Dear Editor,
In an opinion poll being conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA), voters are showering accolades on the PPP Presidential Candidate Mr Irfaan Ali.
Irfaan, as he is widely called by voters, has been standing side by side with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo (and leader of the PPP) in the street battle for early elections as legal luminary Anil Nandlall leads the fight in the courts to force the Government to abide by the Constitution and judicial rulings.
NACTA has been conducting opinion surveys in Guyana since 1990 on electoral and other socio-politico matters. In a survey conducted in June-July, a majority of voters supported the call for abiding with the CCJ ruling on the No-Confidence Motion and the holding of elections. The latest finding of the ongoing tracking poll sees an increase in that view. Voters express confidence that elections will be held this year and that the President, David Granger, should announce a date so that GECOM can commence preparation for a poll.
The latest survey also finds an increasing endorsement of Irfaan as Presidential Candidate of the Opposition PPP as compared with earlier NACTA polls conducted in February, April, and July. Voters are getting to better know and understand the PPP candidate for President and they feel he has a very good chance of being elected, especially since he has the endorsement of Jagdeo.
Voters were asked to describe some of the positive and negative attributes of the potential Presidential Candidates. Voters describe Irfaan as hard-working, energetic, vibrant, courageous, youthful, and visionary. An increasing number of supporters believe he will make for a good President especially since he will have former President Bharrat Jagdeo at his side for advice and guidance. Jagdeo has been described as the best Finance Minister in recent times. A large majority rated his presidency positively, saying they had a better standard of living.
On Irfaan, voters stated he was among the most effective Opposition parliamentarians after Opposition Leader Jagdeo. Irfaan, alongside Gail Teixeira, Anil Nandlall, Frank Anthony, and others held the Government to its toes, exposing contradictions. Irfaan played a most important role in parliamentary scrutiny which is a critical tenet of democratic governance. In addition, voters say Irfaan made very insightful remarks on budgets and Government policies when he was in Government and in Opposition. They say he was effective at exposing wasteful expenditure and questionable spending that were subsequently addressed by the Auditor General.
Voters describe Irfaan as the most effective Head (Chair) of the Public Affairs Committee (some say the most effective in the history of Parliament, taking Government to task) exposing flaws in Government spending and lack of accountability. Many voters also say that when he was a Minister, Irfaan was results-oriented, and they are confident that an Irfaan Presidency will get results. They note, for example, that his Housing Ministry gave out the most house lots in the history of Guyana. And that he also effectively ran the Ministry of Tourism at the same time. Many felt he was like a super Minister. During his tenure at Tourism, there was an increase in tourists in Guyana. The country received tourism awards and was spotlighted internationally.
Many voters feel Irfaan, although young, has the experience and capacity to take Guyana forward. They say he has shown maturity, and that he understands the multi-cultural and multi-dimensional politics of Guyana. Some say he has grown from when he was a Minister and would have learned from mistakes he made when he was a Minister of Government. They also note he has spoken well on oil and gas and that he will be able to take Guyana forward, especially in the coming energy economy.
Some voters note that Irfaan has been unfairly maligned in the media without incontrovertible evidence. Some also point out that Irfaan has recognised and owned up to mistakes in his past conduct and that he has learned from them. They feel he will make for a much better President than when he was a Minister.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram
