NACTA: Citizens praise Gary

THE majority of the population is praising Commissioner of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith for his efforts to “tame runaway criminality.”

Despite many citizens being dissatisfied with the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) performance in government, the PNM stands a better chance of re-election if a general election is called now.

The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader ended the year in a virtual dead heat in the popularity ratings.

These were some of the findings of the latest North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) poll which was released today.

NACTA said crime remains the main concern of citizens, as reflected by 93 per cent of the respondents. But the poll said Griffith is getting plaudits since being appointed CoP in August.

After crime, the health care system (82 per cent), infrastructure such as drainage, roads and bridges (80 per cent), the economy (74 per cent), corruption (69 per cent), governance (68 per cent), and racism or discrimination (61 per cent), are citizens' other main concerns.

The poll also said a “sense of despair and hopelessness pervade large swaths of the country during this end of year holiday season with many losing their belongings from floods and their jobs saying they can barely make ends meet.”

Only 29 per cent of respondents support the Government’s performance, while 54 per cent disapprove and 17 per cent had no opinion.

Dr Rowley ended the year with an approval rating of of 41 per cent and a disapproval rating of 45 per cent, with 14 per cent of respondents offering no opinion on his performance.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar has an approval rating of 42 per cent and a disapproval rating of 38 per cent, with 20 percent of respondents not offering a rating.

The poll has a margin of error of four per cent.

Were an election to be held now, 49 per cent of respondents said the PNM would win, 29 per cent felt the United National Congress would win and 24 per cent said the outcome is unsure.

The poll said 51 per cent of respondents felt the 2019 budget would not improve their lives, compared to 30 per cent who felt it would and 19 per cent who were not sure.

NACTA said 55 per cent of respondents were unhappy with how Government handled Petrotrin’s restructuring and 59 per cent were not pleased with its handling of property.

But NACTA said 78 per cent of respondents support local government reform in Trinidad, along the lines of the Tobago House of Assembly. Local government reform legislation is expected to come to Parliament next year.