UNEMPLOYMENT IS the burning issue in this election campaign, according to the latest Gleaner-Don Anderson poll.
Consistent across all groups canvassed, 42 per cent of those interviewed islandwide said the principal issue that needs to be addressed was the lack of employment opportunities in the country.
The Don Anderson and Market Research Services Ltd. poll was conducted between August 1 and August 23, involving 1,119 interviewees of voting age in over 92 communities across the island. The margin of error is 3.1 per cent
"Polling by us has shown that the electorate is becoming more and more concerned about issues and less so about personalities, when it comes to campaigning by prospective Members of Parliament," Mr. Anderson said.
Other issues that are of concern to the voting public include crime and violence, education, infrastructure and the economy.
Over one third of those interviewed "feel that the principal issue ought to be how to tackle crime and violence in the society, whilst 23.8 per cent listed education," Mr. Anderson explained.
"The current national posturing on free education and cost sharing in schools is, therefore, consistent with the expectations of the people," Mr. Anderson concluded.
Poverty and corruption failed to reap more than 3 per cent each, while human rights is also low on the agenda of most citizens, polling just 3.2 per cent.
