Panday shines in Budget; Manning slips in NACTA poll

In the most recent survey conducted by NACTA, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday has received high marks for his parliamentary response to the budget. But the survey has also found that both Panday and Prime Minister Patrick Manning have slipped in their approval ratings. The poll has also found that Manning faces no threat at his party’s national convention and that his endorsed candidates will win the PNM’s executive posts that are up for grabs this weekend. NACTA is a New York-based research and polling group with no affiliation to any political party. The group has been conducting polls in Trinidad since the November 1995 election. The latest poll was conducted to find out opinion on issues relating to the recent budget, the Dhanraj Singh murder trial, and the popularity of the government and the opposition a year since the PNM was re-elected.

NACTA interviewed 392 voters to yield a demographically representative sample of the population. Asked if they felt that the 2004 budget will contribute to a positive  or negative development of TT, respondents were divided with UNC-affiliated respondents condemning the budget while PNM-affiliated respondents defending the budget. Overall, the budget receives a thumbs down 39% to 36% with 12% giving it a neutral rating and 13% offering no response. But when adding the neutral raters with those who support the budget, 48% approve of the Manning’s budget. Middle class voters, however, express deep concern over the high deficits and the rising allocation for funded work programmes such as CEPEP. Panday’s response to the budget received a much higher score (71%) than Manning. Asked to rate Panday’s parliamentary response to the budget, 35%  rated it as excellent, 19% rated it as good, 17% fair, 11% neutral, 6% poor, and 12% no response. The high ratings for Panday’s budget presentation are a rare feat for the embattled UNC leader who continues to be seen by UNC supporters as an obstacle to political progress in Trinidad, according to the NACTA release. Respondents noted that for once, Panday did not muddy his image in a speech but they feel his bubble of fame will not last long. 

Just as he attacked the Syrians a few weeks ago, they expect him to shoot himself in the foot again soon, the relase stated. In spite of his famed speech, Panday trails Manning in approval rating (31% to 21%).  Voters are disenchanted with the leadership of both parties but Manning remains more popular than Panday. Asked if they are satisfied with Manning’s performance as Prime Minister, only 31% said yes, a slip of 2% since July; 42% said no with 14% neutral and 13% no response. Middle class Afro Trinidadians  expressed disenchantment with some of Manning’s policies and many of them rate the PM’s performance negatively or neutrally. Asked if they are satisfied with Panday’s performance as Opposition Leader, just 21% said yes, a decline by 4% since July, with 53% saying no and 14% giving him a neutral rating. Over half the Indo Trinidadians  interviewed, give Panday a negative rating on job performance with many suggesting that he should now exit the political scene on a high note with his budget presentation considered one of the best delivered in parliament.