The poll, conducted
over the last three weeks on current issues, randomly interviewed
486 respondents to reflect the demographic composition of the population.
The survey was conducted by New York-based pollster Vishnu Bisram.
Asked if judges should fall under the Integrity Act, only a small
number (seven per cent) answered in the negative saying it would
impact on the willingness of businessmen and professionals to serve
in public office.
The overwhelming majority of respondents feel judges and all public
officials should file declarations of assets with the Integrity
Commission. Many people say that by seeking exemption from the Integrity
Act, judges, independent Senators and Board members give the impression
that they have something to hide.
They feel officials holding positions of trust have a responsibility
to demonstrate their intention to uphold integrity and should comply
with the law by filing their declarations of assets.
Asked which prime minister, between Manning and Panday, did or is
doing a better job in combating corruption, Manning outshines Panday.
Most respondents support Manning’s decision to refer allegedly
corrupt ministers in the Dhansook Affair to the Integrity Commission
for investigation leading to an increase in Manning’s ethical
stock. This compares sharply with voters, including the bulk of
UNC supporters, who said they were not pleased with the way then
Prime Minister Panday handled corruption which they say was the
root cause for the erosion of support for the UNC since 2001.
They noted that if Panday had followed the advice of his Attorney
General, Ramesh Maharaj, to launch an investigation into corruption,
the UNC would still have been in government and Panday would have
improved his personal standing among the population.
Many traditional supporters of the UNC grudgingly say Manning has
done more to fight corruption and wished Panday had followed similar
steps as Manning in referring his perceived tainted ministers to
the IC for investigation.
Traditional supporters of the PNM overwhelmingly say Manning has
done more than Panday to fight corruption, citing the resignations
of two ministers and the referral to the IC of Minister Keith Rowley
in the Landate scandal as testimony of Manning’s commitment
to combat corruption.
Respondents support the resignations of Williams and Khan saying
they follow the tradition of the Westminster political system but
that Williams should have resigned when Khan resigned months ago.
Many respondents, even in the UNC camp, wished former UNC Ministers
had resigned as Khan and Williams did believing it would help to
polish the image of the UNC.
A majority of respondents say they don’t think Prime Minister
Manning himself is involved in financial impropriety but that many
officials including several ministers in his government are corrupt.
As a result of the Dhansook Affair, suspicions of kickbacks and
bribery flood the public mind.
Most respondents say corruption is prevalent throughout society
and that Manning needs to do a lot more to battle corruption within
the PNM camp.
In fact, UNC supporters feel the government has used a double standard
in the arrests of UNC and PNM officials indicted on corruption.
They cite the way Ministers Williams and Khan were quietly arrested
as compared with the arrests of Mr. and Mrs. Panday last June when
gun-toting police swarmed their home and office.
The findings of the survey show that corruption implications of
UNC officials will hinder the party from posing a serious challenge
to the PNM at the next election.
On the issue of corruption, a majority prefer the PNM over the UNC
because they feel the PNM has done more than the UNC to attack corruption.
The UNC needs to be purged if it is to be a serious contender for
political office.
New party leader, Winston Dookeran, has not been successful in using
his clean incorruptible image to bolster the image of the UNC.
Most UNC supporters and floating voters feel influential individuals
in the UNC should apologise over the way corruption was dealt with
when the party was in government believing apologies would help
the party in the next election.
The survey also polled people on a number of other issues; the findings
will be released in a subsequent report. |
