Voters are clamoring for the return of former MPs Jack Warner, Winston Dookeran, Vasanth Bharath, Glenn Ramadharsingh, among other erstwhile stalwarts in the opposition UNC lineup and or on the national campaign to help boost the party’s electoral prospect in the coming elections. This is among the latest findings of the ongoing NACTA poll on issues relating to the election likely in September. According to the pollster, voters are not very confident that the UNC in its current state can topple the PNM. Voters say the UNC has a very weak executive and team surrounding the leader. She needs a team with a proven track record that can bolster her standings against the PNM. They feel the party needs some of the heavy hitters of 2010 that propelled the opposition to victory. They will give the opposition a fillip in the polls. They are also urging unity of UNC forces.
Party supporters say if the UNC goes into the elections disunited, it faces the specter of defeat. But if it goes united, it would emerge victorious. In 2010, the opposition was united and it won. Unity in 2020 will improve standing in the marginal seats enough to capture government.
The poll finds that voters across the political divide say that Jack, Vasanth, Winston, among others, add value and strength to the UNC campaign, attracting middle class swing voters and others disgruntled with the PNM especially in the East West corridor critical for victory. Without a swing, the UNC cannot win the marginals in the E-W corridor and without seat gains in the corridor, the UNC cannot form government.
Voters feel going alone, UNC will face defeat as the party lacks enough voter support in six marginals to win them.It is noted that Dookeran brings credibility, Jack brings political strategy and election know how, Vasant appeals to voters of both parties and has shown he has shown that he puts “country before self”, and Glenn has standing among the lower class of supporters of both parties.
According to the poll, without heavy hitters like Vasanth, Jack, Dookeran, and others on the line up and or on platform, the UNC faces a steep uphill climb to unseat the incumbent. The trio will help the UNC to capture six marginals and retain the two it currently holds. This would give the UNC a 24-15 victory in Trinidad.