The latest poll conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (Nacta) has revealed that Jack Warner is out front in the Chaguanas West by-election by a slim majority.
According to the findings of the poll obtained from interviewing 394 respondents (90 per cent Indian, seven per cent Africans and three per cent Others), Warner has an 87 per cent approval rating as MP, whereas his opponent Khadijah Ameen has an approval rating of 28 per cent for representation as councillor and chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation.
However, the votes can swing as there are a large number of voters who are undecided. Asked who will win the seat, 41 per cent of respondents said Warner, 36 per cent said UNC, and 21 per cent said it was a close contest that could go either way, with two per cent not offering an opinion. There is a four per cent margin of error.
‘Kamla has strong support’
The poll also showed that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has overwhelming support, and many voters are torn between voting for Warner because of his good representation and staying loyal to their UNC party.
Voters also expressed confidence that Warner and Persad-Bissessar will resolve their differences after the by-election and that the ILP will become a member of the PP. The poll also stated that Jack’s lead in the race has been shrinking because of missteps. PP supporters expressed a strong liking for Jack but do not want to be out of government.
The poll showed that the other candidates, including the PNM’s Avinash Singh and Democratic National Assembly’s Dr Kirk Meighoo, are not making any significant impact and will lose their deposits.