The findings of an opinion poll conducted earlier this month by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) show that a majority of voters endorse the judicial ruling of the (now retired) Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, in the Appeal Court.
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
That ruling states that the people are sovereign over the Parliament, and should exercise their vote in a referendum to amend the Constitution.
The latest NACTA poll also reveals that former President, Bharrat Jagdeo “will win the next general election” if he were to be presidential candidate of the opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C). “However, a majority of eligible voters expressed serious reservations over whether the next election will be free and fair,” the poll stated.
The poll, of 402 respondents, was conducted by well-known and internationally acclaimed pollster Dr Vishnu Bisram for the reputable NACTA polling organisation. Bisram said voters were interviewed to reflect the diversity of the demographic composition (43% Indian, 31% African, 16% Mixed, 9% Amerindian, and others 1%) of the population.
Asked if they support the (2-1 majority) ruling of Chancellor Carl Singh’s Appeal Court upholding the judgment of the (now retired) Chief Justice Ian Chang: that Presidential term limit is unconstitutional without a referendum, 58% said “yes”, 30% said “no”, and others did not offer a response. Respondents are divided largely along party and racial affiliation in their answers.
Ironically, many voters who endorse the courts’ ruling on the unconstitutionality of the amendment on Presidential term limits are generally supportive of term limits, but like the learned judges, they feel it should be done in a referendum. The overwhelming majority (73%) of respondents feel there is need for a new constitution; one approved by the population in a free and fair referendum to limit the powers of the executive and empower the population. ‘
Only PNC supporters are supportive of the current Burnham constitution that was foisted on the population through fraud in 1980. Asked if they feel the next general election will be free and fair, 60% said “No” with 31% saying “Yes”, and the others not offering an opinion. Voters do not feel that the dominant PNC in the governing coalition would allow a free and fair election. They also feel the AFC and WPA elements in the coalition regime would endorse a fraudulent election so as to continue their enjoyment of the perks of being in office.
Asked who should be the PPP’s Presidential candidate for the next general election, almost every PPP supporter said, “Jagdeo”. Asked which party would win the next election if Jagdeo were the PPP Presidential candidate, every PPP supporter said Jagdeo would easily defeat incumbent president, David Granger; or Moses Nagamootoo or any other PNC or coalition candidate.
Many supporters of other (PNC and AFC) parties also feel Jagdeo would win the next election. Some 54% of all respondents say PPP (Jagdeo) would win the next election; only 32% of respondents feel the coalition would win the next election, with the others saying, “Not sure” or not offering a response.
Many of those traditional supporters who crossed over to the AFC and the coalition in the previous three elections have indicated they would return to the PPP because of the mismanagement and corruption of the ruling coalition. However, some 7% of traditional PPP supporters, who defected to the AFC in 2011 and 2015 say they will not return to the PPP unless they party undergoes significant reformation and transformation and unite all the opposition forces. These disgruntled former traditional PPPites and other non-committed voters who supported the (AFC faction of the) coalition in May 2015 and the AFC in 2011 say they are looking for (or seeking to form) a third party.
According to the NACTA poll, they say the AFC has betrayed them by abandoning its founding principles, but they are not “going PPP”, and sticking with the coalition is out of the question.
