These results are from a nationwide survey on current issues conducted by the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine for the Trinidad Guardian. The main intention of this survey is to assess popular opinion on a number of major issues. A representative random sample of 503 respondents comprised people 18 years and over with 37 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 41 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 21 per cent Mixed persons and one per cent Other. The sample consisted of 48 per cent males. Respondents were selected using the Random Digit Dialling Method. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 per cent. This poll was supervised by Dr Derek Chadee, Manager, ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre and Senior Lecturer, Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine.
Do you think that the Coalition (UNC/COP/other groups) would win the upcoming general elections or would the PNM?
�2 UNC Coalition–53%
�2 PNM–17%
�2 Don't know–30%
With reference to ethnicity, Indo-Trinidadians were most likely to state "UNC Coalition." Precisely, 77per cent of Indo-Trinidadians, 45 per cent Mixed and 30 per cent Afro-Trinidadians indicated "UNC Coalition." Afro-Trinidadian (29 per cent) persons were more likely to state "PNM" than both Mixed (21 per cent) and Indo-Trinidadian (four per cent) persons. Similarly, 41 per cent of Afro-Trinidadian, 33 per cent Mixed and 19 per cent Indo-Trinidadian persons stated "don't know."
In examining sex, minimal differences were noted between males and females. Males (55 per cent) were slightly more likely to state "UNC Coalition" than females (52 per cent). Similarly males (17 per cent) were more likely to state "PNM" than females (16 per cent). Female (32 per cent) respondents however, were more likely to state "don't know" than their male (28 cent) counterparts.
Do you think that the Coalition (UNC/COP/other groups) would effectively manage the affairs of this country?
�2 Yes–51%
�2 No–21%
�2 Don't know–28%
With reference to ethnicity, Indo-Trinidadian persons were most likely to state "yes." Specifically, 75 per cent of Indo-Trinidadian, 43 per cent Mixed and 29 per cent Afro-Trinidadian persons stated "yes." Afro-Trinidadian (37 per cent) people were more likely to respond "no" than Mixed (26 per cent) and Indo-Trinidadian (four per cent) people. Similarly, Afro-Trinidadian persons had a greater tendency to state "don't know" than the other ethnic groups. Precisely, 35 per cent of Afro-Trinidadian, 32 per cent Mixed and 21 per cent Indo-Trinidadian persons stated "don't know".
In analysing sex, slight differences were noted between the sexes. Specifically, 54 per cent of males and 49 per cent of females stated "yes." Females were more likely to respond "no."
Precisely, 24 per cent of females and 18 per cent of males responded "no." Little difference was observed between the sexes in stating "don't know." Specifically, 28 per cent of males and 27 per cent of females stated "don't know."
In assessing age, the 41 to 50 age group was most likely to respond "yes." Specifically 57 per cent of the 41 to 50, 54 per cent 51 plus, 47 per cent 18 to 30 and 47 per cent 31 to 40 stated "yes." The 18 to 30 (27 per cent) age group was much more likely than the 41 to 50 (11 per cent) to state "no."
Do you think that the Coalition (UNC/COP/ other groups) would form a stable Government
(without splits in coalition)?
�2 Yes–46%
�2 No–27%
�2 Don't know–27%
With reference to ethnicity, Indo-Trinidadian people were the most likely to state "yes." More precisely, 70 per cent of Indo-Trinidadian, 36 per cent Mixed and 23 per cent Afro-Trinidadian persons stated "yes."
Afro-Trinidadians (45 per cent) were noticeably more likely to state "no" than Mixed (32 per cent) and Indo-Trinidadian (eight per cent) people. Similarly, Mixed (33 per cent) people had a slightly greater tendency than Afro-Trinidadians (32 per cent) and Indo-Trinidadians (22 per cent) to state "don't know." This displayed once more that there is a high level of indecision among Afro-Trinidadian and Mixed persons with regard to the "UNC Coalition."
In examining sex, minor differences were observed among the sexes. Males (50 per cent) had a greater tendency than females (42 per cent) to respond "yes." Females were more likely to state "no." Specifically, 30 per cent of females and 23 per cent of males responded "no." Similarly, 28 per cent of females and 27 per cent of males stated "don't know."
