G2K lauds rise of positive view in country’s direction, PNP calls for change
Published:Wednesday | April 24, 2024 | 4:46 PM
Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional affiliate of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, says the rise in the number of Jamaicans with a positive view of the country's direction signifies the tangible impact of the economic gains achieved by the Andrew Holness administration.
G2K argues that more Jamaicans have experienced the benefits of these economic gains, and are confident in the government's ability to steer the nation towards continued prosperity.
An Opposition People's National Party (PNP) Don Anderson-led Market Research Services Limited poll, published today by The Gleaner, found that the majority of participants believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction.
The poll was conducted between April 4 and 12 among persons 18 years and older who are eligible to vote and had 1,057 respondents, with a sampling error of plus or minus three per cent.
The survey found that 47 per cent, or 497 participants, do not believe that things are moving in the right direction.
Those persons cited issues such as unemployed or idle youth, a lack of basic necessities such as water, electricity and roads, and a high cost of living.
Conversely, 28 per cent, or 296 people polled, felt that Jamaica is moving in the right direction.
Of that cohort, they pointed to, among other things, the availability of jobs and road improvements.
Twenty-seven per cent of the respondents were unsure or did not know how things were moving.
Pollster Anderson noted that while it is not unusual for most people to be convinced that things are going not in the right direction, it is the first time, based on his recollection, that so many people believe that the country is going in the right direction.
“Generally, when we do these [polls], we have the majority of persons saying that the country is going in the wrong direction – 50-odd per cent, 58 per cent, etc – and we have no more than about 22, 23 per cent saying the country is going in the right direction, so this is an important piece of finding,” he told The Gleaner.
In a media release reacting to the findings, G2K echoed this sentiment.
It noted that the 28 per cent of persons who said that the country is going in the right direction is a jump from the 16 per cent recorded in a different poll in June 2023.
The organisation is arguing that this an indication of growing confidence in the government's ability to drive positive change and foster economic growth.
"We are pleased to see the increase in confidence among Jamaicans regarding the direction of our country under the leadership of Prime Minister Andrew Holness," asserted G2K president Shayne Kerr.
"The significant rise in positive sentiment is a testament to the government's commitment to driving economic growth and improving the lives of citizens," he added.
G2K is charging that as more Jamaicans experience the benefits of these economic gains, confidence in the government's ability to steer the nation towards prosperity continues to grow.
"Generation 2000 encourages the government to maintain its focus on improving the lives of Jamaicans," said Kerr.
"While significant strides have been made, especially among our youth, it is essential that the government continues to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are felt by all Jamaicans."
Meanwhile, the PNP, in its own media release reacting to the poll, said the dissatisfaction highlighted by the 47 per cent of participants must be noted as a signal that things need to change in the country.
PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell argued that the issues raised by respondents need to be urgently addressed by the Government.
"The results of this survey are a clear call for change, and we are not surprised by the findings that nearly half of the Jamaican populace believes the country is on the wrong path,” asserted Campbell.
“This sentiment echoes the concerns we've been hearing directly from the people during our engagements across communities. It's clear that many are disheartened with the current administration's approach to governance - often feeling that the government's portrayed successes do not reflect their lived realities,” he added.
Campbell said the PNP is positioned to respond effectively to the concerns of the electorate.
“Let me assure every Jamaican that change is on the horizon. The People's National Party is committed to restoring trust and delivering a government that not only listens but acts in the interest of all its citizens. When elected, we will ensure that governance in Jamaica is synonymous with quality service and respect for every citizen. We pledge to provide the quality representation that our people deserve - one that genuinely makes them feel respected and valued.”
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