The poll that SPEAR conducted last year predicted the PUP's loss at the municipal polls. But the political culture wasn't quite ready for that and the poll was roundly ignored and even ridiculed. But after the walloping at the March town boards, even those who don't like the findings and doubt the methods, have to concede that there is something there. Count acting Prime Minster John Briceno among the believers, or should we say, converts. He today told us that the poll is now an instrument that is being closely studied to try and secure more votes in the next general elections.
Hon. Johnny Deputy, Acting Prime Minister
"We cannot dismiss the poll and I think it is something that we need to take seriously and look at it and see what it is telling us and for us to be able to make any adjustments that we need to do. As to the Prime Minister's poll, I think what is important for people to know or to understand is that the Prime Minister continues to have the support of the Cabinet, the House of Representatives, and also of the party. So what we need to do is to continue to work along with him as a party.
I think what is most important to look at is the people that are saying that they will consider either voting for a third party or do not have an opinion. When you add those two groups, you are looking at almost fifteen percent of the population have not decided what they are going to do."
Alfonso Noble,
How can you discount the third party as a factor in the next general elections?
Hon. Johnny Briceno,
"We cannot discount anything in politics. One year in politics is a lifetime. So it is not a matter of discounting a third party, but it is a matter of looking at those people, seeing what are their concerns, and to show them that this party has had a proud track record. Yes there have been cases where we have made mistakes, we are not perfect."
The poll showed a national approval rating of 15% for the Prime Minister, down from 19.8% a year ago. And though respondents overwhelmingly chose the UDP to win the next election, the results for the PUP were most encouraging in Briceno's Orange Walk. That's the only district where more respondents would vote for the PUP instead of a faceless third party. It's also the only district where the PUP and UDP polled evenly, with exactly equal support, 23.3%. And while that support was highest for the PUP in Orange Walk and it was lowest for the blue in the city, where only 6.3% of respondents said they would support them in the next election.
Briceno has been acting as Prime Minister for the past two weeks while the Prime Minister has been in the UK on a working vacation.
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