Jamaicans say no to third parties – Don Anderson poll

Three in every five Jamaicans say they will not vote for a third political party even as there is significant apathy towards the country’s two main rivalling parties.

The finding is among the latest in a Don Anderson public opinion poll conducted by his Market Research Services Limited (MRSL) company between September 27 and October 3.

The survey captured the views of 1,012 Jamaicans aged 18 years or older.

It has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level.

Anderson said non-aligned, publicly traded private-sector interests assisted in financing the research, the parameters of which were determined solely by MRSL.

Asked if they would give a third party their vote at this time, 62.6 per cent said they would not vote for a third party now, 21.3 per cent said they are not sure they would, while 16.1 per cent said they would.

The responses follow February’s local government elections in which the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Marcus Garvey People’s Political Party (MGPPP), Jamaica Political Movement (JPM), and Left Alliance for National Democracy and Socialism (LANDS) opted to not participate.

Yesterday, Joseph Patterson, president of the United Independents’ Congress (UIC), which fielded four candidates in the election, said a lack of media coverage is to be blamed for the poll results.

MEDIA TO BLAME

He said little to no coverage in the media does not give Jamaicans much to go on.

“We really haven’t given the Jamaican people enough context in which to respond. They weren’t given a name nor were they seeing the UIC in terms of the normal news cycle,” said Patterson.

He said it is only during the election season that third and other parties are given some form of attention or coverage.

He said the parties, considered minor in the context of Jamaica’s two-party system, are never invited to give commentary or feedback on issues.

“At election time, we start off the discussion, you know, third parties don’t do well. We’re talking about this at election time, not during the course of the year. So these are all the kinds of things which contribute to a poll result like this,” Patterson told The Gleaner.

The Gleaner was unable to reach Michael Williams, co-founder and general secretary of the NDM, for comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, Jamaicans have indicated that debates between leaders and candidates, parties’ manifestos/plans, party conferences, and receiving gifts to vote all have no impact on their willingness to vote.

Some 63.4 per cent of respondents said debates have no impact, 14.8 per cent said little impact, 11.7 per cent said they have great impact, and 10.1 per cent said some impact.

In terms of manifestos, 58.7 per cent said they have no impact, 14.1 per cent said some impact, while 13.6 per cent confirmed that they have great impact. A similar 13.6 per cent said they have little impact.

On whether party conferences have any impact on Jamaicans’ willingness to vote, 76.3 per cent said they have no impact. Some 9.4 per cent of correspondents indicated that they have little impact, 7.4 per cent said some impact, and 6.9 per cent said they have great impact.

In the same breath, 82.8 per cent of respondents said receiving gifts to vote has no impact on their willingness to go to the polls, and 5.7 per cent noted that the act has little impact. Gifts have great impact for 6.1 per cent of participants and somewhat of an impact for 5.4 per cent.

A significant majority of those quizzed also said the subjects had no impact on which party they would vote for.

Seventy-one per cent of respondents said debates have little to no impact in terms of the party they vote for, while 14.5 per cent said they have some impact or great impact, respectively.

For 63.4 per cent of respondents, manifestos have little to no bearing on the party they vote for while, by contrast, 21 per cent said they have somewhat of an impact, and 15.6 per said they have great impact.

Party conferences have little to no impact on 79.5 per cent of respondents in terms of the party they will vote for while 10.6 per cent said they have somewhat of an impact. Some 9.9 per cent said they have great impact.

Gifts have little to no bearing on the party 83.9 per cent of respondents vote for but have some impact on 8.7 per cent and great impact on 7.4 per cent.

“In summary, whilst none of these factors would weigh heavily on decisions the voter has to make, manifestos represent the factor highest on their list though this accounts for less than 30 per cent of all voters, according to the poll,” said Anderson.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com

There is talk of third parties contesting elections in Jamaica when next elections are held. Would you give a third party your vote at this time?

%

Yes, I would vote for third 16.1%

party now

No I would not vote for a 62.6%

third party now

Not sure I would vote for a 21.3%

third party

Total 100.0%