A poll conducted by NACTA over the last two weeks shows overwhelming satisfaction with the way Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been managing the ruling partnership and with how her government has been responding to threats of industrial action. The poll, conducted by New York-based Vishnu Bisram, interviewed five hundred respondents representing the demographic composition of the population. The poll, which queried views on several current issues, has a margin of error of five per cent. Asked if they believed there is a serious rift within the governing partnership, 51 per cent answered in the negative as opposed to 30 per cent who said yes and 19 per cent was "not sure".
Many government supporters also believe there is a rift among UNC cabinet colleagues. But voters, from across the political divide, do not believe any perceived rift is serious enough to threaten the survival of the Government or impact negatively on its stability or overall governance. Almost everyone believes the Government will last its full five years term in office and feel there is no political alternative in the making at this time. Asked if they were satisfied with how Persad-Bissessar has been managing the five party coalition partnership, the PM got an overwhelming approval (84 per cent) from both government and opposition supporters. Asked if they were satisfied with how the government has been handling the threats of industrial actions by state employees, 68 per cent said yes with only 19 per cent saying no and 13 per cent no response.
People are overwhelmingly opposed to any strike. The labour unions have been losing sympathy and support from the general public for their declaration of war and strike threats. Also, the Government supporters believe the industrial actions are politically motivated. Many felt the Government was generous in its compensation package to workers. However, some complained that the proposed package was not enough to offset inflation. Many, from across the political divide, said the treatment meted out to PSA president Watson Duke for accepting the five per cent pay package was unwarranted. People said any labour package must be balanced against the economic health of the nation and global conditions.