. The Status of Democracy in Trinidad and Tobago: A citizens view March 15 th, 2010 University of West Indies
Sample Design
Methodology Face-to-face interviews by trained interviewers National probability samples of 1500 respondents 18 years and older Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) is used at every stage of sampling Sample is stratified to ensure that all major demographic segments of the population are included in the sample Estimated Error: +/- 3% with 95% confidence interval Interviews were carried out by The institute of International Relations (IIR) at UWI
Sample Description None 0.3% Primary 16.3% Higher 34.9% Female 50.0% Male 50.0% Secondary 48.5% Sex Education Level. 56-65 9.9% 66+ 6.9% 16-25 25.3% South 30.2% Tobago 3.9% West 23.6% 46-55 16.4% 36-45 16.8% 26-35 24.7% Central 19.2% East 23.1% Age Source:AmericasBarometer by LAPOP Regions
Support for Democracy as System
Agreement with Churchill? Democracy may have problems, but it is better than any other form of government. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly disagree Strongly agree Low Support High Support
Support for Democracy in T&T Substantial proportions of citizens agree with Churchill Low Support 31.0% High Support 69.0%
Support for Democracy in T&T in Comparative Perspective Costa Rica Panama Venezuela Guyana Nicaragua 80.4 75.5 74.0 72.9 71.3 Trinidad & Tobago 69.7 Dominican Republic 68.6 Mexico 66.8 El Salvador 64.1 Paraguay 63.3 Guatemala 62.8 Peru 60.1 0 20 40 60 80 Support for Democracy 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effects Based)
Who are more likely to have high support for democracy in T&T? 0.75 0.72 Mean predicted probability of having high support for democracy 0.70 0.65 Mean Predicted Probability of having high support for democracy 0.70 0.68 0.66 0.64 0.62 0.60 0.60 18-30 years old 31-45 years old 46-60 years old 61 and older None Primary Secondary Higher Education Level 0.75 0.80 Mean predicted probability of having high support for democracy 0.70 0.65 Mean predicted probability of having high support for democracy 0.75 0.70 0.60 Income not enough, having hard time Income not enough, stretched Income just enough Perception of Family Economic Situation Income good enough, can save 0.65 Central South East West Tobago Region Results significant at p.<0.05; control variables included
Satisfaction with Democracy
Satisfaction with the way democracy works in T&T PN4. In general, would you say that you are very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the way democracy works in Trinidad & Tobago? (1) Very satisfied (2) Satisfied (3) Dissatisfied (4) Very dissatisfied (88) DK (98)DA Dissatisfied 43.3% Very Dissatisfied 11.6% Very satisfied 1.8% Satisfied 43.2% Level of Satisfaction with The Way Democracy Works in T&T
Satisfaction with Democracy in T&T in Comparative Perspective Panama Costa Rica El Salvador Dominican Republic Paraguay Nicaragua 54.7 50.7 49.9 48.6 62.5 62.5 Guatemala 47.8 Venezuela 46.3 Peru 44.7 Trinidad & Tobago 44.7 Mexico 44.6 Guyana 43.8 0 20 40 60 Satisfaction with Democracy 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effects Based)
System Support Index
Items used to create System Support Index B1. To what extent do you think the courts in (country) guarantee a fair trial? B2. To what extent do you respect the political institutions of (country)? B3. To what extent do you think that citizens basic rights are well protected by the political system of (country)? B4. To what extent do you feel proud of living under the political system of (country)? A lot 7 6 5 4 3 B6. To what extent do you think that one should support the political system of (country)? Not at all 2 1
Support for the Political System in T&T in Comparative Perspective Costa Rica Panama El Salvador Mexico Guyana Dominican Republic Nicaragua 63.2 60.2 58.7 56.8 54.9 53.9 51.7 Guatemala 49.6 Venezuela 49.0 Peru 46.8 Paraguay 46.3 Trinidad & Tobago 44.0 0 20 40 60 System Support 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effects Based)
Who supports the political system in T&T? 52 46 Mean predicted system support 50 48 46 44 Mean predicted system support 45 44 43 42 41 42 40 18-30 years old 31-45 years old 46-60 years old 61 and older 40 central south tobago east west Region 48 Mean predicted system support 46 44 42 40 38 Income not enough, having hard time Income not enough, stretched Income just enough Income good enough, can save Perception of Family Economic Situation Results significant at p.<0.05; control variables included
Economic Crisis and its Relationship on Democracy
Perception of the Economic Crisis CRISIS1. Some say that our country is suffering a very serious economic crisis, others say that we are suffering a crisis but it is not very serious, while others say that there isn t any economic crisis. What do you think? [Read options] (1) We are suffering a very serious economic crisis (2) We are suffering a crisis but it is not very serious, or (3) No economic crisis [Go to VB1] (88) DK [Go to VB1] (98) DA [Go to VB1] CRISIS2. Who is the most to blame for the current economic crisis in our country from among the following: [READ LIST, MARK ONLY ONE RESPONSE] (01) The previous administration (02) The current administration (03) Ourselves, the Belizeans (04) The rich people of our country (05) The problems of democracy (06) The rich countries [Accept also Unites States, England, France, Germany, and Japan] (07) The economic system of the country, or (08) Never have thought about it (77) [Don t read] Other (88) [Don t read] DK (98) [Don t read] DR (99) N/A
Is There an Economic Crisis? Trinidad & Tobago Latin America and the Caribbean No economic crisis 9.8% No economic crisis 5.7% We are suffering a crisis but it is not very serious 43.9% We are suffering a very serious economic crisis 46.2% We are suffering a crisis but it is not very serious 47.2% We are suffering a very serious economic crisis 47.1% Economic Crisis Perception Percepion of Economic Crisis
Who is to blame for the crisis? Trinidad & Tobago Latin America and the Caribbean Other 15.9% The economic system of the country 8.6% The current government 44.0% Other 40.7% The current Government 24.2% The rich countries 8.9% Ourselves, the citizens of the country 13.2% Ourselves, the citizens of the country 22.6% The Economic system of the country 13.5% The rich countries 8.3% Who is the most to blame for the current economic crisis? Who is the most to blame for the current economic crisis?
Economic Crisis and Satisfaction with Democracy Trinidad & Tobago Latin America and the Caribbean 61.5 System Support 50 40 30 20 10 41.8 44.8 49.0 Satisfaction with Democracy 60 50 40 30 20 10 45.1 53.7 0 We are suffering a very serious economic crisis We are suffering a crisis but it is not very serious Perception of Economic Crisis 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effect Based) No economic crisis 0 We are suffering a very serious economic crisis We are suffering a crisis but it is not very serious Perception of Economic Crisis 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effect Based) No economic crisis
Economic Crisis and System Support Trinidad & Tobago Latin America and the Caribbean 50 40 41.8 44.8 49.0 60 50 49.1 56.0 59.5 System Support 30 20 System Support 40 30 20 10 10 0 We are suffering a very serious economic crisis We are suffering a crisis but it is not very serious Perception of Economic Crisis There is not an economic crisis 0 We are suffering a very serious economic crisis We are suffering a crisis but it is not very serious Perception of Economic Crisis No economic' crisis" 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effect Based) 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effect Based)
Perception of Insecurity and its Impact on Democrac
Perception of insecurity in T&T AOJ11. Speaking of the neighborhood where you live and thinking of the possibility of being assaulted or robbed, do you feel very safe, somewhat safe, somewhat unsafe or very unsafe? (1) Very safe (2) Somewhat safe (3) Somewhat unsafe (4) Very unsafe (88) DK (98)DR Somewhat unsafe 15.1% Very unsafe 6.0% Somewhat safe 54.5% Very safe 24.4% Perception of insecurity
Perception of insecurity in T&T in Comparative Perspective Peru El Salvador Venezuela Dominican Republic Mexico Paraguay 53.8 49.7 49.2 46.5 43.5 41.7 Guatemala 39.9 Nicaragua 38.9 Panama 36.1 Trinidad & Tobago 33.9 Guyana 33.8 Costa Rica 32.2 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Perception of Insecurity 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effects Based)
Who are more likely to feel somewhat or very unsafe in T&T? 0.25 Mean predicted probability of feeling somewhat or very unsafe 0.20 0.15 0.10 Tobago South West East Central Region
Perception of insecurity undermines democratic legitimacy 46 44 System Support 42 40 38 36 very safe somewhat safe somewhat unsafe very unsafe Perception of Insecurity
Corruption and its Impact on Democracy
Perception of Corruption in T&T EXC7. Taking into account your own experience or what you have heard, corruption among public officials is (1)Very common (2)Common (3)Uncommon (4) Very uncommon (88) DK (98) DA Common 40.2% Uncommon 3.6% Very Uncommon 0.8% Very common 55.4% Perception of corruption
Perception of Corruption in T&T in Comparative Perspective Trinidad & Tobago Peru Guyana Paraguay Costa Rica Dominican Republic Mexico Panama 83.1 79.4 78.5 78.4 78.0 77.6 76.3 76.2 Venezuela 76.1 Guatemala 75.5 Nicaragua 67.5 El Salvador 64.6 0 20 40 60 80 Perception of Corruption 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effects Based)
Corruption Victimization in T&T Percentage of People Victimized by corruption at Least Once in Past Year Yes 9.1% No 90.9% Percent of Population Victimized by Corruption
Corruption Victimization in T&T in Comparative Perspective Mexico Peru Paraguay Guatemala Venezuela 18.5 21.2 27.1 32.0 35.0 Dominican Republic 17.5 Guyana 17.1 Nicaragua 12.1 El Salvador 11.4 Costa Rica 10.1 Panama 9.4 Trinidad & Tobago 9.1 0 10 20 30 40 Per cent of Population Victimized by Corruption 95% Confidence Interval (Design-Effects Based)
Corruption Victimization in T&T by Regions 0.70 Mean predicted probability of perceiving that corruption is very common 0.65 0.60 0.55 0.50 East West South Tobago Central Region Result significant at p.<0.05; control variables included
Corruption victimization undermines democratic legitimacy 45 40 System Support 35 30 25 None One Two Three Four Number of Ways Victimized in Past Year