‘They are panicking’
POLLSTER and chief executive officer of Market Research Services Limited (MRS) Don Anderson says the response of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to a poll commissioned by the Opposition which shows the Government straggling behind it by five percentage points could be a sign the Administration is “panicking”.
The ruling party’s General Secretary Dr Horace Chang in a biting statement on Tuesday following the announcement of the findings said, “the poll is sponsored by the People’s National Party [PNP] and its findings are designed to artificially influence public opinion”.
According to Dr Chang, who said the survey findings were “fictitious and contrived”, “the release of [the] party-sponsored poll is part of the PNP’s propaganda and misinformation campaign intended to shore up a weak leader, sow discontent, and distract the country with political mischief”.
According to the poll, which was conducted between June 8 and 14 among 1,012 registered voters aged 18 years and older, it has a margin of error of three per cent. It said respondents when asked which party they would vote for if an election were held now, 30.2 per cent said the PNP, while 25 per cent said the JLP.
On the question of the popularity of PNP President Mark Golding and JLP leader Holness, the poll found that 53.2 per cent of respondents said they had a positive view of Golding, compared to 54.5 per cent who preferred Holness.
Speaking with the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday morning the astute Anderson, who is well-respected as a political pollster throughout the Caribbean, said, “they play games, they believe if they discredit the poll then the numbers will go away, makes no sense, bottom line”.
Continuing Anderson said, “it’s unfortunate that he should make a comment like that, really unfortunate”.
He, in the meantime, dismissed the suggestion that the poll results were cooked up.
“I have no axe to grind, I have no political party to support, I have no reason to do that [contrive polls]. I don’t care who wins. It’s unfortunate but it’s expected. And it probably is a reflection that they are panicking, it could be,” Anderson said urbanely.
Tuesday during a press conference, held at the PNP’s headquarters on Old Hope Road in St Andrew, party leader Mark Golding said based on the survey results, the PNP — which was crushed 14-49 seats in the 2020 General Election — will emerge victorious when Jamaicans next go to the polls.
The PNP president, who appeared upbeat, said it was a “good day” for the PNP, as it is now enjoying a substantial lead after trailing the JLP in previous polls.
According to the survey, 47.6 per cent of individuals when asked if they felt the governing party is deserving of another term in office said ‘no’; 31.6 per cent said ‘yes’; while 20.8 per cent said they were ‘unsure’.