A poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (Nacta) has shown that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar still enjoys an approval rating of 51 per cent among party members and supporters, five years after being elected UNC political leader.Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley's rating trailed closely behind with 49 per cent.
The poll revealed that the PM's popularity was based on her charisma and compassion for the less fortunate, while Rowley's ceaseless efforts to hold the Government accountable on various missteps have earned him some points.The poll, conducted last week by Dr Vishnu Bisram, is based on findings obtained from interviews with 470 respondents.
Whereas the survey revealed that Persad-Bissessar remains the most popular political figure in the UNC, as well as the governing coalition party, supporters insist they are turned off by several of the PP's incumbents and government ministers.However, those who supported the PP Government in the 2010 general election indicated that they remained committed to the PM's re-election, saying neither the PNM nor the ILP were viable alternatives.
However, supporters were cautiously optimistic about the PM's re-election chances, as the poll showed she faced a tough battle in the marginal constituencies of St Joseph, Barataria and Moruga/Tableland.Earlier polls showed the PP Government trailing the PNM in the Toco/Sangre Grande, Arima, D'Abadie-O'Meara, Lopinot/Bon Air West, Tunapuna, and San Fernando West seats.
Voters felt that ministers Vasant Bharath, Fazal Karim, Dr Tim Gopeesingh, Dr Roodal Moonilal, Gary Griffith, Dr Suruj Rambachan and Winston Dookeran were performing on the job, while Larry Howai and Emmanuel George received poor performance ratings.