Survey: Nation disenchanted with handling of varied issues

Dear Editor,
The findings of an opinion survey conducted by this writer for the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) last July showed people are disenchanted with the incumbent coalition APNU/AFC Government’s handling of several issues.
The Government scores poorly on a range of issues, while the Opposition has the confidence of a majority.
The survey finds that three quarters of the nation feel they are worse off today than they were three years ago. A majority of the nation is not satisfied with the Government’s handling of the economy, corruption, crime, contract negotiations with Exxon, the Cyber Bill, and the termination of sugar workers. People do not express much hope in their future wellbeing, with an overwhelming majority saying the country is moving in the wrong direction.

They are critical of the Government for its termination of well-known independent-minded Guyana Chronicle columnists Lincoln Lewis and David Hinds. The nation is also disappointed with how the Government has marked the late President Cheddi Jagan’s 100th birth anniversary. They say Government has not done enough to honour the late Dr Jagan, with many saying the Government has disrespected the memory of the founding father of the nation.
Respondents also express grave concern about the fairness of the next elections in Guyana. A large majority say they don’t think the elections will be free and fair. However, if an election were called now and it is free and fair, people feel PPP would win a majority. Guyanese say the US has to be the guarantor of free and fair elections in Guyana, and a lopsided majority want closer relations with America.
The latest Guyana survey was conducted in June/July to find out opinions on a number of current issues relating to people’s quality of life. NACTA interviewed 1340 adult respondents (550 Indians, 400 Africans, 242 Mixed, 135 Amerindians, and 13 Whites and others belonging to other ethnic categories) to yield a demographically representative sample of the adult population. People were polled randomly. The results of the poll were analysed at a 95 percent significance level, and an approximate statistical sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points was found. This means that in theory, in 19 cases out of 20, the results based on such a sample will differ by about 4 percentage points from what should have been obtained by seeking to interview the whole adult population.
According to the findings of the opinion survey, crime remains the dominant issue, with people expressing widespread fear of being robbed; 86 per cent say they are dissatisfied with Government’s policy for combating crime.
Many also express concerns about the handling of the economy (64 per cent), corruption (67 per cent), governance (63 per cent), Exxon contract (74 per cent), terminated sugar workers (68 per cent), and Cyber Bill (71 per cent). Some 88 per cent feel the country is moving in the wrong direction. Some 92 per cent feel Guyana should cement closer links with the United States.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram