Dear Editor,
The latest findings from an ongoing survey being conducted by thus writer, Vishnu Bisram, for NACTA reveal that President Irfaan leads Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton and other potential Presidential aspirants. The coalition will lose support to Irfaan if Norton is the Presidential candidate. The poll has been interviewing adults to represent the demographics of the population.
The poll finds that President Irfaan Ali is way ahead in popularity (favorability) ratings against an opposition Presidential candidate Aubrey Norton. If an election were called now, Irfaan would canter to victory over Norton assuming Norton is the opposition Presidential candidate.
The poll findings indicate that Irfaan is very popular among all demographics of the country, placing him as among the most popular figures in the country. Other potential contenders are not so well known and do not have high favorability ratings like Irfaan, suggesting they will face imminent defeat. The small parties will not be able to garner enough support for a seat. The public feel the small parties would be better off merging with the known parties and or combining in a united force or in a ‘joinder list’.
The poll reveals that Irfaan, Azruddin, Greenidge, Glenn, and several other figures have higher favorability and lower unfavorable ratings than Norton. The poll shows that Norton has low favorable numbers and high negatives compared with Irfaan and Azruddin who have high favorable and low negatives. Norton has an overall negative favorability rating when compared with others; he has nil support among Indians. In contrast, Indians, the business community, in particular, speak positively about Greenidge and Campbell. Carl Greenidge and Terrence Campbell enjoy positive net ratings as do Ubraj Narine, and Glenn Lall. However, several respondents, especially in the rural areas, have no opinion of Campbell and Ubraj Narine saying they don’t know much about the duo as compared with other national figures. Greenidge, Azruddin, and Glenn are well known nationally. But all of them trail Irfaan who has presented himself as a likable, grounded, shrewd populist who has been effectively using his office to expand his political appeal and base of support. The President is the most popular nationally among all of them.
Norton’s favorability or likability rating is below surface; Norton is very unpopular even among PNC supporters and has zero support among swing voters. Were Norton to lead the combined coalition opposition into the 2025 general elections due by November, the coalition is projected to lose seats from the current 31 it holds. Irfaan, who is the most popular candidate in the ruling party, is projected to make gains from the PNC.
Norton. Were PNC (APNU) and AFC to contest the election separately, PNC would lose seats to AFC, but the former will win more seats than the latter, returning Norton as opposition Leader and Irfaan as President.
