DESPITE GOOD support for the Cabinet changes made recently, the majority are of the view that Prime Minister Patterson did not make the right changes. This is one of the findings from a recent poll conducted on behalf of The Gleaner Company by Don Anderson and his team from Market Research Services Ltd.

The poll was conducted over the period March 10 to 23, 2000 and involved interviews with just over 1,000 persons aged 18 years and over, in all parishes. The sample was representative of the national population in terms of age, gender and socio-economic group. The sample error was + or -- 3.2 per cent.

While 46 per cent of those interviewed feel that the Cabinet changes which were made by Prime Minister Patterson earlier this year were the right ones, the majority -- 53.1 per cent -- did not share this view. Strong support for the PM's actions however came from the older persons in the population, persons aged 55 plus, 66 per cent of whom approved of the changes, and among the more affluent, 56 per cent of whom supported the changes made.

Question: Recently the Prime Minister shuffled his Cabinet. Do you think he made the right changes? Total 55+ Upper Income % % % Yes 46.0 66.2 56.3 No 53.1 33.8 37.4 Not sure 0.9 -- 6.3

Those who were opposed to the changes were asked to indicate what other changes they would have wanted. A significant number simply did not know what else he should have done, but some persons called for the removal of Finance Minister Davies and National Security and Justice Minister Knight as possible options to the changes made.

Question: What other changes would you have liked to see?

The following represents the list of responses given.

Don't really know 37.8%

Omar Davies should be moved 10.5%

KD Knight should go 10.3%

They should all have resigned 9.7%

Certain ministers should go 9.2%

PJ Patterson should have resigned 8.0%

Simpson Miller should be Deputy PM 2.5%

Move Knight to another position 1.6%

Simpson Miller should stay at Welfare 1.2%

Whiteman needs to be changed 1.0%

Other answers 8.2%

In any event, the Cabinet changes made by the Prime Minister are not expected to make a significant impact on the performance of the government. Asked to indicate what effect they feel the changes will have on the performance of the government, just 18 per cent felt that it would make for better government on the part of the PNP, as 40 per cent said it will have little effect and another 35.6 per cent that the changes will have no effect whatsoever on the performance of the PNP government and will not make them any more efficient.

Will have good effect 18.2%

Will have little effect 40.0%

Will have no effect 35.6%

No response 6.2%