The ruling People's National Party (PNP) has a lot to be worried about, even though it booted Dr. Karl Blythe from his Housing and Water Ministry two weeks ago over reports that he medled in the day-to-day affairs of the Ministry.
One-third of Jamaicans interviewed for a recent Don Anderson poll said the Operation PRIDE scandal, which led to Dr. Blythe's resignation will be costly to the PNP in the upcoming general election.
The poll, conducted on behalf of The Sunday Gleaner between Monday and Wednesday last week, showed that 35 per cent of Jamaicans believe the scandal will cost the party a lot of votes and affect its chances of winning the elections. Some 500 persons aged 18 years and over in 28 communities answered to the question: What impact do you feel Operation PRIDE scandal will have on the PNP's chances of winning the next elections. The margin of error is 4.3 per cent.
The party has been rocked by the allegations of corruption and over- expenditure in Operation PRIDE and the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC). The allegations were levelled against the party by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and it led to party president and Prime Minister P. J. Patterson ordering a probe into the allegations.
The Erwin Angus report suggested that Dr. Blythe was intimately involved in the selection of contractors and deciding who should be paid and when, flouting basic guidelines, including those set by Cabinet. Several key figures in the Ministry and the entire board at NHDC also resigned.
In March, the General-Secretary of the PNP, Maxine Henry-Wilson, indicated that the party is not overly perturbed by public rumblings over allegations of mismanagement and corruption in the Government and remains convinced that its bid for a fourth consecutive term in office remains viable.
She said that the average electorate did not even know about these things and referred to a recent opinion poll which revealed that most Jamaicans were not aware of the NetServ scandal which broke late last year.
However, the just concluded Don Anderson poll indicated that the electors were in fact aware. But there were some people who also felt that the Angus report will not materially affect the chances of the party winning the next election. Responding to the question, 19 per cent of those interviewed believed that the scandal will cost the party a few votes, but will not affect its chances of winning the elections.
Another finding of the polls showed that 28 per cent believe that the PRIDE/NHDC episode will have very little effect on the votes they will get, while 16 per cent believe the votes going to the party will not be affected.
Dr. Blythe demitted office on Saturday April 13, vowing to clear his name.
Meanwhile respondents answering the question: How will the forced resignation of Dr. Blythe impact on how you plan to vote? Are you more or less inclined to vote for the PNP after this, 45.7 per cent said it will have no effect on how they vote suggesting they have already made up their minds.
Twenty-eight per cent said they will be less inclined to vote for the party, while only 10 per cent said they will be more inclined to vote for the PNP.
Just over 16 per cent said they did not have a vote and did not intend to vote.
