#4. Tebbutt Poll Results: Top Election Issues in Fiji

A Tebbutt poll in June found the cost of living (50%), unemployment (31%) and wages (28%), to be the main issues of public concern as Fiji moves on to the Elections.

Pn40

These were seen to be the most pressing issues for Government by those interviewed, and the biggest issues for those interviewed and "people like you." Other issues were education (14%), land (13%), infrastructure (13%), health (11%) and poverty (10%).

Mentioned by 5% or less were "disaster assistance, unity, the economy, the environment, corruption, good governance, political stability, welfare, and human rights."

Tebbutt and the Fiji Times did not reveal exactly how the questions were asked but it seems to have been in the form of a prepared list to which those interviewed responded yes or no. I think it would have to be using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) explained in an earlier posting. (see 2. Comparing Three Sample Polling Methods.) CATI is less reliable as more poll questions increase. This poll had 17 on what pollers thought and a matching number on how the issues affected them, 34 questions in all.

I have some doubts about whether less educated people would understand some of these terms, and wonder whether some interviews were conducted in a vernacular. Whatever ... as the Times states they do provide "a glimpse of how people are thinking." Attempting a statistical analysis would be near impossible.

What is interesting is the high places give to tangible concepts (cost of living, wages, etc.) that all would understand and the much lower places given to more abstract concepts such as good governance. political stability and human rights which, if the opposition to the Bainimarama government is anything to go on, are the primary concerns of the educated urban elite, SODELPA and the National Federation Party.

What is the cause? The abstraction or are "ordinary" Fijians really less affected and concerned about human rights whose restrictions affect them less?

For the full Fiji Times article, which also includes comments by USP economist Dr Neelesh Gounder, click here,click here.

And if your appetite is not yet sated, read the results of another Tebbutt poll, on elected or appointed mayors on which Dr Gounder also comments.
-- ACW.