June 18, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Jamaica believe their current prime minister has performed well in leading the People's National Party (PNP), according to a poll by Market Research Services Ltd. Published in The Gleaner. 56 per cent of respondents think Portia Simpson Miller has done a good or very good job at the head of the party.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Jamaica believe their current prime minister has performed well in leading the People's National Party (PNP), according to a poll by Market Research Services Ltd. Published in The Gleaner. 56 per cent of respondents think Portia Simpson Miller has done a good or very good job at the head of the party.

In March 2006, Simpson Miller took over as head of government. Fellow party member Percival J. Patterson had served as Jamaica's prime minister since March 1992. In the October 2002 election, the PNP elected 34 legislators to the 60-member House of Representatives. The opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) secured the remaining 26 seats. 61 per cent of respondents believe things in Jamaica are headed in the wrong direction.

In February 2005, Bruce Golding took over as the JLP's new leader. 46 per cent of respondents consider Golding has administered the opposition party well or very well.

Earlier this month, Golding revealed a set of anti-crime proposals the JLP would introduce if it were to form a government. The plan includes a compulsory national registration system incorporating a swipe card with fingerprint data for every citizen, and reintroducing the death penalty. Golding defended his controversial ID plan, saying, "I want to get to a stage where the police, if they are looking for somebody and somebody come up that (could be the one), they must be able to determine in a split second who that person is."

Polling Data

Which of the following statements would you say best describes how you feel about the performance to date of this People's National Party (PNP) administration under Portia Simpson Miller?

Good job / Very good job	56%
Bad job / Very bad job	38%

Which of the following statements would you say best describes how you feel about the performance to date of this Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration under Bruce Golding?'

Good job / Very good job	46%
Bad job / Very bad job	22%

Do you believe things in Jamaica are headed in the right direction, or in the wrong direction?

Right direction	24%
Wrong direction	61%

Source: Market Research Services Ltd. / The Gleaner
Methodology: Interviews with 1,117 registered Jamaican voters, conducted from May 30 to Jun. 4, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.