Majority of Jamaicans say country headed in the wrong direction

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

With less than a year to go before the general election is constitutionally due, nearly 60 per cent of Jamaicans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, citing high cost of living as a major factor behind their view.

 

In the most recent poll conducted by Don Anderson's Market Research Services Limited, 58.1 per cent of the respondents had a grim outlook for the country's future.

 

When 1,012 people were asked why they believe the country was headed in the wrong direction, the answer from 51 per cent, was that the cost of living is too high.

 

Given the same prompt in June last year in a poll commissioned by the People's National Party, 53.3 per cent of respondents were of the same view.

 

Political commentator Lloyd B. Smith believes the poll results point to an apparent disconnect between the government and the wider public. 

 

"Interestingly, from time to time, one hears the complaint about persons not being able to get their job, yet hearing that unemployment is down, and of course crime. Yes, particularly, crime may be trending down, but especially murders are still very rampant, and also the nature of some of these killings. We have seen an upsurge in mass shooting. So I think the government is in a pickle because on the one hand, it is saying that things are coming up roses, but on the other hand, the people are saying, no, no, we have a lot of prickles in the rose," he argued. 

 

The new data further revealed that 36.6 per cent of respondents believe there is too much corruption in high places. And despite the government spending millions to fight crime, another 36.6 per cent of respondents lamented that the administration's failure to bring crime under control puts the country in an unfortunate position.

 

Meanwhile, 22.6 per cent said a government of broken promises had put the country on an unfavourable track towards development.

 

Among the other reasons for the negative outlook were youth unemployment and the absence of basic necessities in some areas.

 

But 21.7 per cent of those polled had a favourable outlook, saying Jamaica is moving in the right direction.

 

In the June 2023 poll, only 15.6 per cent said the country was on the right track.

 

Among the reasons listed by 49.3 per cent of respondents in the latest poll is that the economy has improved.

 

Another 38 per cent said the government has managed the country's affairs well and 28.4 per cent said more jobs are now available.

 

They also listed improved infrastructure, more educational opportunities, improved personal lives and access to basic commodities among other factors contributing to their positive outlook.

 

Some 20.2 per cent of the respondents expressed uncertainty about where the country was heading.

 

The poll was conducted over the period September 27 to October 3 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level.