THE governing People's National Party (PNP) has experienced a six per cent slip in favourable opinion among registered voters, according to a Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll.

At the same time, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has seen an eight per cent jump in popularity.

Of the 1,008 eligible voters who responded to the question, 'What is your opinion of the two major political parties?', 41 per cent had a favourable perception of the PNP. It was a much healthier 47 per cent when Johnson last posed this question in May.

Forty-four per cent of those polled between October 28 and 29 said they had an unfavourable opinion of the party, which is led by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. This is up from 30 per cent six months ago.

Fifteen per cent were not sure what opinion to form of the Government.

The JLP's stocks continued to improve. Thirty-six per cent of those polled had a favourable opinion of the party which has been out of power since early 1989, eight points up from May.

However, the JLP's unfavourable column continued to inch up. Forty-eight per cent were not impressed by the party which has been under the leadership of Bruce Golding for just over one year.

Forty-six per cent had an unfavourable opinion of the JLP in May. Sixteen per cent were not sure.

Scandals

The poll, conducted in 84 communities across Jamaica's 14 parishes, has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent. Mr. Johnson said the JLP's aggression on various 'scandals' that have rocked the Government this year has helped its cause.

"For the first time the PNP is losing ground because the people are waiting to hear what they are doing and what they are planning to do," said Mr. Johnson. "So far they have been reacting to the cement scandal, to (Sandals) Whitehouse and Trafigura. They haven't had the chance to be proactive by getting out a message," the pollster said.

PNP

Opinion: