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.
In examining the variable ethnicity, Indo-Trinidadian people were most likely to state "yes." Specifically, 85 per cent of Indo-Trinidadian, 47 per cent Mixed and 33 per cent Afro-Trinidadian people stated "yes." For the response "no," 29 per cent of Afro-Trinidadian, 21 per cent Mixed and four per cent of Indo-Trinidadian persons gave this response. Afro-Trinidadian (38 per cent) people were most likely to state "don't know," with 31 per cent of Mixed and 12 per cent of Indo-Trinidadian people stating this response. In assessing responses by sex, little difference was seen among males and females when stating "yes," Specifically, 59 per cent of females and 58 per cent of males stated "yes." Similarly, 19 per cent of females and 14 per cent of males stated "no." For the response "don't know," 27 per cent of males and 22 per cent of females gave this response.
There were marginal differences among age groups saying "yes." Specifically, 62 per cent of the 51 plus, 59 per cent 41 to 50, 58 per cent 31 to 40 and 54 per cent 18 to 30 age group said "yes." The youngest age group was most likely to say "no." Precisely, 22 per cent of the 18 to 30, 17 per cent 31 to 40, 16 per cent 51 plus and ten per cent of the 41 to 50 age group said "no." The 41 to 50 age group however, was the most likely to state "don't know." Specifically, 31 per cent of the 41 to 50, 24 per cent 18 to 30, 24 per cent 31 to 40 and 22 per cent 51 plus age group gave this response.
Examining responses by ethnicity (that is, for each ethnic group assessing the support for each candidate) showed a 54 per cent difference between Indo-Trinidadians and Afro-Trinidadians that state "Kamla Persad-Bissessar." Specifically, 79 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 40 per cent Mixed and 25 per cent Afro-Trinidadians said "Kamla Persad-Bissessar." Afro-Trinidadians were observed to be more likely than other ethnic groups to state "Patrick Manning" as 23 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 17 per cent Mixed and two per cent Indo-Trinidadians stated "Patrick Manning." Indo-Trinidadians (15 per cent) respondents were 22 to 23 per cent less likely to state "don't know" than Afro-Trinidadian (38 per cent) and Mixed (37 per cent) respondents.
Assessing the support for each candidate by ethnic groups, the ethnic composition of people stating "Kamla Persad-Bissessar" were 66 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 18 per cent Afro-Trinidadians and 16 per cent Mixed persons. Of the persons stating "Patrick Manning" 65 per cent were Afro-Trinidadians, 27 per cent Mixed persons and eight per cent Indo-Trinidadians. Of the people that stated "don't know" 38 per cent were Afro-Trinidadians, 37 per cent Mixed and 15 per cent Indo-Trinidadians. The undecided are more likely to be Afro-Trinidadians and mixed people.
In response to this question, there was a 33 per cent difference between support for the UNC Coalition and the PNM. Examining responses by ethnicity (that is, for each ethnic group assessing the support for each political party) showed a 54 per cent differences between Indo-Trinidadians and Afro-Trinidadians stating "UNC Coalition". Specifically, 73 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 34 per cent Mixed and 19 per cent Afro-Trinidadians said "UNC Coalition." The majority of persons stating "PNM" were Afro-Trinidadians. Specifically, 21 per cent of Afro-Trinidadian, 16 per cent Mixed and one per cent Indo-Trinidadian persons stated "PNM". Of the undecided, 61 per cent were Afro-Trinidadians, 50 per cent Mixed and 26 per cent Indo-Trinidadians. The findings suggest that the ethnic group with the largest amount of ambiguity in party preference is the Afro-Trinidadian group, followed marginally by the Mixed group.
With regards to gender of the persons who stated "UNC coalition" 52 per cent were males and 48 per cent females. Of the persons responding "PNM" 55 per cent were females and 45 per cent males. Similarly, of the people stating "undecided" females (56 per cent) were noticeably more likely to state "undecided" than males (44 per cent).
In assessing the variable age, the age distribution for the response "UNC Coalition"–38 per cent came from the 51 plus, 26 per cent 18 to 30, 19 per cent 41 to 50 and 18 per cent 31 to 40 age groups.
Of the respondents saying "PNM," 38 per cent were of the 18 to 30, 36 per cent 51 plus, 16 per cent 31 to 40, and 11 per cent 41 to 50 age groups. With regard to the response "undecided," the 41 to 50 age group was the most likely to state this response. Specifically, 35 per cent of the 51 plus, 24 per cent 18 to 30, 22 per cent 41 to 50, and 19 per cent 31 to 40 age group were undecided.
who is the best?
Some public comments on who would be the best prime minister:
Patrick Manning
He has done a good job in the past, so he can do a good job now. Manning is a seasoned politician.
Keith Rowley
He is the best to lead the party.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Someone else should be given a chance. The country needs a female leader. She is the only option after looking at the alternatives.
Bissessar has the vision, articulate, does not get into drain politics, focus on the issues. She will lead the country towards a bright future.
