According to NACTA’s survey, TV host C.N Sharma is the most likeable politician in Guyana. Voters were asked if their opinion of several politicians and public figures was positive (favourable) or negative (unfavourable) or neutral (positive and negative opinion balance out) or if they don’t know enough of the

person to form an opinion. The positive and negative rating of an individual is not the same as the person’s job performance approval rating but rather how well he or she is liked or disliked by the population.

Some of the personalities have relatively high neutral ratings which is good news because it means that people, for whatever reason, do not see them either in a positive or a negative light. On the other hand, some individuals have very high positive rating (liked) or high negative rating (not liked).

Among the personalities polled, Justice for All party leader C.N Sharma has the highest favourable (positive) rating at 54% as well as the lowest unfavourable (negative) rating at 16%. His nearest rival is TUF leader and Minister of Tourism Manzoor Nadir whose positives stand at 52% and his negatives at 18% followed by Attorney and former Information Minister Moses Nagamootoo with

51% positives and 20% negatives. The favourable and unfavourable ratings for President Jagdeo are 48% and 26% respectively. Robert Corbin’s positives and negatives are 42% and 32% respectively. Prime Minister Sam Hinds’ negatives and positives are 45% and 25% respectively. The individual with the lowest positives is Mayor Hamilton Green at 34% and coincidentally also has the highest negative rating at 33%.

Jagdeo’s positive number is 3% higher than Corbin and his negative is 6% lower. But Jagdeo has lower positives than ROAR leader Ravi Dev, JFA leader Sharma and Attorney General Doodnauth Singh as well as higher negatives than Dev, Doodnauth, Raphael Trotman, Vincent Alexander, Roger Luncheon, Ralph Ramkarran and Ryhaan Shah. However, the numbers are within the 5% margin of error

suggesting that all of them are at a statistical dead heat.

Calculating the differences between the positives and negatives (net numbers) of the personalities, Sharma is in the lead with 38% followed by Nadir with 34%, Nagamootoo with 31% and Ryhaan Shah at 28%. It should be noted that Trotman has a higher net rating (26%) than Jagdeo (22%), Hinds (19%) and Corbin (10%). The individual with the lowest net rating is Mayor Green with 1%.

In rating Sharma as the most likeable individual, respondents (of all races) identify him with his popular media programmes that expose government deficiencies and highlight peoples’ plights; he is also identified with his work among (providing assistance to) the poor and the needy; Sharma is particularly liked by Africans, few of whom see him negatively. Nadir is complimented, even by Africans, as a hard working, dedicated Minister; hence the reason for his high rating. Ravi Dev is well liked among Indians but many Africans view him as “racial” because of his focus on Indians and therefore the reason for his high negatives. Jagdeo has high negatives (even Indians are upset with him) primarily because of rampant crime.

His high negatives come mainly from among Africans. Trotman has high positives (even liked by Indians) because he is viewed as one of a few PNC leaders who is considered a moderate and an individual of integrity who condemns the criminal elements.

Trotman’s support suggests he is seen by the nation (including Indians) in a positive light and is therefore in the best position to successfully challenge Corbin for leadership or to succeed as leader of the PNC should Corbin decide to step down. The figures also suggest that Nagamootoo (net rating of 31%) is in the most favourable position to succeed Jagdeo as President edging out Ralph Ramkarran whose net rating stands at 17%, below Jagdeo’s 22% net number. So Jagdeo is likely to remain the PPP Presidential candidate if the challenger is Ramkarran.

Many respondents said they do not know much about some of the

personalities to form an opinion about them and as such offer no response. Hence, the reason for the high numbers in the “no response” category.

Those politicians who posted very high (in the thirties) unfavourable ratings are in serious electoral trouble. They need to work on their public relations image if they are going to win over the confidence of voters in a future election. Readers are cautioned that a high net rating does not necessarily result in electoral success. Sharma, Nadir and Dev have relatively high

positive as well as net ratings but polled less than 1% votes at the last general elections. Also, Nagamootoo posts a high net rating but was not selected as the PPP Presidential candidate. The positive and negative rating of an individual is not the same as the person’s job performance approval rating but rather how well he or she is liked or disliked by the population.

Some of the personalities have relatively high neutral ratings which is good news because it means that people, for whatever reason, do not see them either in a positive or a negative light. On the other hand, some individuals have very high positive rating (liked) or high negative rating (not liked).

Among the personalities polled, Justice for All party leader C.N Sharma has the highest favourable (positive) rating at 54% as well as the lowest unfavourable (negative) rating at 16%. His nearest rival is TUF leader and Minister of Tourism Manzoor Nadir whose positives stand at 52% and his negatives at 18% followed by Attorney and former Information Minister Moses Nagamootoo with

51% positives and 20% negatives. The favourable and unfavourable ratings for President Jagdeo are 48% and 26% respectively. Robert Corbin’s positives and negatives are 42% and 32% respectively. Prime Minister Sam Hinds’ negatives and positives are 45% and 25% respectively. The individual with the lowest positives is Mayor Hamilton Green at 34% and coincidentally also has the highest negative rating at 33%.

Jagdeo’s positive number is 3% higher than Corbin and his negative is 6% lower. But Jagdeo has lower positives than ROAR leader Ravi Dev, JFA leader Sharma and Attorney General Doodnauth Singh as well as higher negatives than Dev, Doodnauth, Raphael Trotman, Vincent Alexander, Roger Luncheon, Ralph Ramkarran and Ryhaan Shah. However, the numbers are within the 5% margin of error

suggesting that all of them are at a statistical dead heat.

Calculating the differences between the positives and negatives (net numbers) of the personalities, Sharma is in the lead with 38% followed by Nadir with 34%, Nagamootoo with 31% and Ryhaan Shah at 28%. It should be noted that Trotman has a higher net rating (26%) than Jagdeo (22%), Hinds (19%) and Corbin (10%). The individual with the lowest net rating is Mayor Green with 1%.

In rating Sharma as the most likeable individual, respondents (of all races) identify him with his popular media programmes that expose government deficiencies and highlight peoples’ plights; he is also identified with his work among (providing assistance to) the poor and the needy; Sharma is particularly liked by Africans, few of whom see him negatively. Nadir is complimented, even by Africans, as a hard working, dedicated Minister; hence the reason for his high rating. Ravi Dev is well liked among Indians but many Africans view him as “racial” because of his focus on Indians and therefore the reason for his high negatives. Jagdeo has high negatives (even Indians are upset with him) primarily because of rampant crime.

His high negatives come mainly from among Africans. Trotman has high positives (even liked by Indians) because he is viewed as one of a few PNC leaders who is considered a moderate and an individual of integrity who condemns the criminal elements.

Trotman’s support suggests he is seen by the nation (including Indians) in a positive light and is therefore in the best position to successfully challenge Corbin for leadership or to succeed as leader of the PNC should Corbin decide to step down. The figures also suggest that Nagamootoo (net rating of 31%) is in the most favourable position to succeed Jagdeo as President edging out Ralph Ramkarran whose net rating stands at 17%, below Jagdeo’s 22% net number. So Jagdeo is likely to remain the PPP Presidential candidate if the challenger is Ramkarran.

Many respondents said they do not know much about some of the

personalities to form an opinion about them and as such offer no response. Hence, the reason for the high numbers in the “no response” category.

Those politicians who posted very high (in the thirties) unfavourable ratings are in serious electoral trouble. They need to work on their public relations image if they are going to win over the confidence of voters in a future election. Readers are cautioned that a high net rating does not necessarily result in electoral success. Sharma, Nadir and Dev have relatively high

positive as well as net ratings but polled less than 1% votes at the last general elections. Also, Nagamootoo posts a high net rating but was not selected as the PPP Presidential candidate.