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According to the findings of NACTA’s latest poll conducted in mid July, House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran and PPP/C General Secretary Donald Ramotar are early favorites in preference for President to succeed President Bharrat Jagdeo whose term of office ends in 2011.They edge out several other potential prospects aspiring for the coveted position to lead Guyana. However, none of Jagdeo’s potential successors come out with overwhelming support with only single digits separating each other in popular appeal.NACTA (North American Caribbean Teachers Association) is a New York-based polling group with no political affiliation and has been conducting opinion surveys regularly over the last 20 years in Guyana and the Caribbean on social and politic al issues.The latest survey was conducted in mid-July to find out peoples views on, among other matters, their preference for President to succeed Jagdeo. The latest survey interviewed 780 individuals (351 Indians, 242 Africans,Cheap NFL Jerseys, 109 Mixed, 78 others) representing the diversity of the population. It was co-ordinated by Vishnu Bisram, a political scientist, pollster, educator and newspaper columnist in New York.Asked who they would prefer as President, Ramkarran polls 15 per cent and is closely followed by PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar with 14 per cent, Opposition and PNC/R Leader Robert Corbin with 12 per cent, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud also with 12 per cent, former PPP/C Minister Moses Nagamootoo with 10 per cent, AFC Leader Raphael Trottman also with 10 per cent, and with several others trailing in single digits.Among those with single digit support are Winston Murray and C.N. Sharma. Some voters feel that Murray will have trans-racial support among the diverse races and will make for an excellent President but do not think he will be given the PNC/R candidacy. Many voters love Sharma who is indisputably considered the most popular personality in the greater Georgetown metropolis (incorporating Regions Three and Four) because of his TV programme Voice of The People.Voters feel that he has an important contribution to make to the development of the country especially in addressing peoples’ problems and should be part of any government because of his reputation at solving problems.Among others identified as potential Presidential successors are Ravi Dev, Caroline Rodrigues, Manzoor Nadir, Khemraj Ramjattan, Vincent Alexander, Aubrey Norton, and Aubrey Armstrong.In rating Ramkaran as the top candidate, voters describe him as a politician of integrity who will be a fair leader.Non-Indians see him as a non-racial person who can help to bring healing to a divided nation. Ramkaran is particularly liked by voters in the urban areas and by the middle and business classes.Donald Ramotar is well liked among party loyalists and Amerindian voters but some see the need for him to improve his public im age and persona. Nagamootoo is liked by long time rank and file members of the party with appeal also among non-Indians who say he will be a just ruler.Robert Persaud has wide appeal among younger voters and people from among the farming sector.They feel he is maturing well since becoming a Minister and would make a good President with more training. Corbin’s support is restricted to traditional party supporters.Voters feel he will be re-elected as PNC/R leader at his party’s convention. Trottman attracts support from among disgruntled supporters of the PPP and PNC especially among the business and educated classes.Voters are not particularly excited with the choices available to them and several voters feel a young woman should be given a chance to lead the country.It is generally felt the PPP/C candidate will emerge victorious because of the party’s superior organization and enormous resources at its disposal.The findings show the PPP/C with 47 per cent popular support with PNCR at 20 per cent and AFC at 13 per cent.A whopping 15 per cent of the population are undecided.Many voters say how they eventually vote will depend on a party’s Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates.Asked if they think the opposition forces should unite against the PPP/C, 35 per cent said yes with 41 per cent opposing it.Many voters feel uniting the opposition will eventually lead to infighting since “everyone will want to be President” thereby creating instability. |
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