Minister of Housing and Environment Dr Roodal Moonilal has come in for huge praise for his handling of the Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (Cepep) in the latest finding of a Nacta poll.Some 300 respondents were interviewed.According to respondents, Dr Moonilal rates high for his ability to effectively transform the programme since assuming office.Respondents also support the decision by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to take control of the Unemployment Relief Programme.Fifty-eight per cent of the respondents support the move saying it will assist in eliminating corruption and complaints about "ghost gangs".On the issue of labour, respondents feel the Government has been treating with the matter fairly.
Asked whether Government has treated labour fairly, 57 per cent said "yes" considering the state of the economy.Only one-third of the population support the labour unions' threat of national strike to disrupt the economy with 54 per cent opposed.The majority of respondents endorse the Government's stance in not giving in to the unions' threat, praising the Government for its courage in not giving in to the demands.
However, respondents felt crime continued to be a critical issue that needed to be addressed and that not enough was being done to stimulate the economy.Some 58 per cent expressed displeasure over what they described as the "conservative handling" of the finance portfolio.According to the poll, almost everyone says "the economy is flat." Respondents are blaming Finance Minister Winston Dookeran.Meanwhile, while not offering any evidence, people feel there is "bobol" in the award of contracts from several ministries.
However, there is praise for the Prime Minister quickly ordering investigations whenever allegations of impropriety surfaced. Attorney General Anand Ramlogan also received kudos for investigating complaints, including the recent ones involving Ministry of Works, Ministry of Energy, UTT, G-pan scandal, etc.The findings also show Works Minister Jack Warner and People's Minister Glenn Ramadharsingh are the two most popular, while 62 per cent of supporters back newly appointed leader Prakash Ramadhar, describing him as a future national leader.