Nacta poll: Disapproval over splitting of Warner’s ministry

The splitting of the Works and Transport Ministry by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in a recent Cabinet reshuffle has been met with some disapproval by voters, who claimed they are losing faith in the Government. A preliminary qualitative findings of a Nacta poll conducted by Vishnu Bisram showed an overwhelming endorsement among voters of Persad-Bissessar’s Cabinet reshuffle, but noted that “they were not pleased with the separation of the Works and Transport Ministry”. Bisram interviewed 380 respondents.

Respondents felt the ministry should not have been split since Jack Warner had performed credibly. On the flip side, the respondents hoped that newly-appointed Transport Minister Devant Maharaj will work in sync with Warner to get more done for public transport, especially after establishing an effective PTSC, where Maharaj served as chairman under Warner. Some, however, view Maharaj as the right person for Transport, describing him as the most effective chairman of a state corporation before his promotion.

Confident about Khan in Health

Though everyone felt a Cabinet shake up was necessary to get ministers to perform better, some respondents were not pleased with the ministerial appointments of some members of the Cabinet. Some were even cynical of the Cabinet changes. The shift of Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan to Public Administration was met with some level of dissatisfaction by some UNC supporters, who felt that she was now settling down in her job. But the majority supported Persad-Bissessar’s move, saying that Seepersad-Bachan’s replacement, Kevin Ramnarine, a petroleum engineer will do a better job in transforming the ministry. The respondents felt some of the other ministers should also have been replaced for lack of performance and that a few of Persad-Bissessar’s reassignments and promotions are not deserving. Respondents were confident Dr Fuad Khan would be more effective as Health Minister.