Guyanese overwhelmingly support Amaila project, subsidy to GPL

An opinion survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) last month found that the overwhelming majority of the nation supports the Amalia Falls Hydro Electricity Project (AFHEP), subsidies to the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL), and the recent introduction of the new minimum wage policy.
The poll interviewed voters to determine support on various government initiated projects as well as popular support for the parties should a snap election be called.
The poll randomly interviewed 520 voters to yield a demographically representative sample (44 per cent Indians, 30 per cent Africans, 16 per cent mixed, nine per cent Amerindians, and one per cent other races) of the population.
The poll was conducted in face-to-face interviews and was coordinated by Vishnu Bisram, pollster, newspaper columnist and educator in New York.
The results of the poll were analysed at a 95 per cent significance level and a statistical sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points was found. Sampling results based on sub-groups such as Indians or Africans have a larger sampling error.
Asked if they approve of the opposition’s rejection of the Amalia Falls hydro project, 67 per cent said no, with only 23 per cent backing the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for opposing the project. People feel the project will lead to cheaper electricity bills.
Parting
Even supporters of the Alliance For Change (AFC) overwhelmingly endorsed the Amalia Falls project with APNU supporters breaking with their party for its opposition to the project.
Asked if they support the opposition rejection of funding subsidy for GPL, 65 per cent said no, with 21 per cent saying yes and 14 per cent saying they are not sure. Asked if they agree with the opposition’s rejection of funds for the construction of Marriott Hotel, 41 per cent said yes, with 35 per cent saying no, and 24 per cent not sure.
Asked if they approve of the opposition’s decision to reject funding for the Specialty Hospital, 39 per cent said yes with 51 per cent said no and 10 per cent was not sure. Asked if they back the opposition’s position against the airport expansion project, 37 per cent said yes, with 52 per cent saying no, and 11 said not sure.
On the question of whether they endorse the increase in the minimum wage policy, a whopping 88 per cent said yes, seven per cent said no, and five per cent said not sure, with workers showering accolades on Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul for this initiative, although many feel the minimum wage needs to be much higher, given the country’s ever increasing cost of living.
This is the highest approval rating in support of any government project in recent times.
Asked if they think the sugar industry can be rescued, 44 per cent said no, with 47 per cent saying yes and nine per cent not offering a response. People feel the industry need to undergo significant structural reforms in order to save it.
The poll was conducted by Vishnu Bisram for NACTA, a New York-based group founded by Dr Latchman Narain of Toronto and Vassan Ramracha of New York, all of whom were involved in the free and fair election movement in the diaspora.
NACTA has no affiliation with any political party and has been involved in several community activities in America, Guyana and other countries.