A recent Bluedot poll has revealed that 44 percent of the Jamaican population believes the country is headed in the wrong direction under the current administration of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
In the past week, Prime Minister Holness has faced some of the most damaging headlines of his leadership, primarily due to findings from the recent Integrity Commission report.
Following this troubling week, the Bluedot poll presented further negative news for the Prime Minister.
The poll, conducted among 1,246 registered voters, inquired whether they felt Jamaica was moving in the right or wrong direction. Remarkably, a significant part of the electorate—44 percent—asserts that Jamaica is on an wrong path.
In contrast, only 27 percent indicated that they believe the country is on the right track, while 29 percent expressed uncertainty about its direction.
The percentage of those who feel Jamaica is heading in the wrong direction has remained stable since February 2024. Conversely, there has been a slight decline in those believing the country is on the right track, decreasing from 28 percent in February 2024 to 27 percent in September 2024.
There are indications that even among supporters of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), confidence is beginning to wane.
Pessimism Among Laborites Grew 4 percent.
Among Jamaicans identifying as JLP supporters, the Bluedot poll showed a four percentage point rise in those who perceive the country is headed in the wrong direction under their party’s administration.
Pessimism among JLP members grew from 16 percent in February 2024 to 20 percent in September.
Moreover, there has been a three percentage point reduction in Labourites who claim that Jamaica is on the right track, falling from 60 percent in February 2024 to 57 percent in September 2024.
Supporters of the opposition PeoPeople’stional Party (PNP) continue to show considerable skepticism about the country’s trajectory, with 68 percent of these respondents indicating that Jamaica is on the wrong track.
This figure has remained virtually unchanged from the 69 percent recorded in February.
But, the proportion of PNP supporters who feel the country is moving in the right direction has increased from 13 percent in February to 18 percent in September 2024.
Unaffiliated voters who believe the country is heading in the wrong direction saw a decrease from 48 percent in February to 45 percent in September.
Notably, one of the most worrying indicators for the JLP is the 18 percentage point increase in the number of Jamaicans who have felt the country is headed in the wrong direction since 2021.
The Nationwide/Bluedot poll, conducted by Total Tools, took place between September 6 and September 19, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.