Despite falling oil prices, citizens are urging the Government not to stop construction of the controversial Debe to Mon Desir segment of the Solomon Hochoy Highway. They believe the much-needed highway, which comes with a $7.5 billion price tag, will bring massive improvement and would reduce the number of hours motorists spend on the roadways in South. On the flip side, others feel if the Government holds its hands on the project, it would save the country money and prevent T&T from going into a recession.
They also noted that the money allocated for the highway could be spent on far more important things. Though the views were mixed, a recent poll showed that despite a tumble in oil prices, 57 per cent of respondents stated that the Government should proceed with construction of the highway. However, 30 per cent agreed that Government should stop construction of the highway, while 13 per cent stated they “don’t know.”
These were the findings of a recent Trinidad Guardian poll conducted and supervised by Prof Derek Chadee, director of the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine. The poll, a nationwide survey held from January 29 to February 3, interviewed 507 respondents over the age of 18 selected by a random digit dialling method. The intention of the survey was to assess popular opinion on a number of major issues.
Overall, the sample consisted of 35 per cent Afro-Trinidadians, 39 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 25 per cent Mixed race persons and one per cent other groups. Of the sample, 53 per cent were females. The margin of error is plus or minus four per cent. Given the drop in oil prices, do you think that Government should stop construction of the Debe to Mon Desir section of the highway?
Yes – 30 per cent
No – 57 per cent
Don’t know – 13 per cent
The majority of respondents said they did not think the Government should stop construction of the Debe to Mon Desir section of the highway. Fifty-seven per cent of people responded “no,” 30 per cent responded “yes” and 13 per cent “don’t know” to this question. Analysis of responses by ethnicity showed that Indo-Trinidadians were most likely to support the continued construction of the highway. Specifically, 77 per cent of Indo-Trinidadians in the sample, 44 per cent of Afro-Trinidadians and 44 per cent of Mixed race persons responded “no”—a 33 per cent difference.
The response of “yes” was given by 43 per cent of Mixed race persons, 39 per cent of Afro-Trinidadians and 14 per cent of Indo-Trinidadians. “Don’t know” was given by 17 per cent of Afro-Trinidadians, 12 per cent of Mixed race persons and nine per cent of Indo-Trinidadians. Analysing responses by sex showed no significant difference between the responses of males and females. Specifically, 61 per cent of males and 54 per cent of females answered “no”. Thirty-three per cent of females and 27 per cent of males responded “yes.”
A similar number of females and males, 13 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, answered “don’t know.” With respect to education, 66 per cent tertiary educated, 57 per cent secondary, 55 per cent primary and 44 per cent technical/ vocational stated “no.” Persons with technical/vocational (43 per cent) education were most likely to say “yes,” followed by 30 per cent with primary, 30 per cent secondary and 25 per cent tertiary.
There were marginal differences among those responding “don’t know,” with 15 per cent primary, 14 per cent secondary, 14 per cent technical/vocational and nine per cent tertiary educated giving this response.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Given the drop in oil prices, do you think the Government should stop construction of the Debe to Mon Desir section of the highway?
YES
•It will save them some money
•There are more important things on which the money could be spent
•The country could go into a recession
•There might be more problems if oil prices continue to fall
NO
•Stopping now would cause them to lose a lot of money
•The money was already budgeted for
•The people need the highway
•The highway will bring massive improvement