By Vernon Daley, Staff Reporter
- Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
Today marks the first 100 days of the new P.J. Patterson-led Government, which was returned to office last October. Inside this issue we analyse the performance of the Government in critical areas such as crime, the economy and the appeal for national unity. Join 'Nationwide', the news and current affairs programme on Power 106 for
further analysis this evening in Cover Story at 5:30 p.m., and The Nation's Business starting at 6:30 p.m.
A MAJORITY of Jamaicans have given a negative rating to the governing People's National Party (PNP) for its performance since retaking office last October.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who was sworn-in 100 days ago on October 23, has also been given the thumbs down by a large number of Jamaicans for his leadership over the past three months.
These were among the findings of a poll conducted on behalf of The Gleaner Company by Don Anderson and his team from Market Research Services Ltd. The islandwide poll was done between January 13 and 23 and involved interviews with some
1,000 persons 18 years and over. It has a sample error of plus or minus 3.2 per cent.
According to the poll, almost 55 per cent of persons surveyed said the performance of the Government in its first 100 days in office was either poor or very poor. This compares with about 18 per cent who gave the Government a positive rating, and 30 per cent who felt that the performance of the P.J. Patterson-led administration over the period was average.
The strongest support for the Government, according to the poll, came from Kingston and St. Mary and among older persons. On the other hand, the Government's most ardent
detractors came mostly from St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. Ann and Manchester.
The PNP Government, which has been in office since 1989, was returned to power in last October's general election, with a sharply reduced majority in the House of Representatives. It won 34 seats, compared to the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) 26.
However, since its return to office, the Government has had to tackle several problems, including a high crime rate, joblessness and a shaky economy that continues to miss set macro-economic targets.
Prime Minister Patterson, who led the party to its fourth consecutive term in office, also came in for tough marking from those polled. Some 45 per cent of those interviewed felt the Prime Minister has performed poorly or very poorly, while 29 per cent felt he has done a good job during the past 100 days. Another 24 per cent of those polled rated Mr. Patterson's performance as average.
Those giving the Prime Minister a negative rating came primarily from Westmoreland, Manchester and St. Elizabeth, while persons from St. Mary, Hanover, St. Catherine and Kingston & St. Andrew largely favoured his performance.
Mr. Anderson, who accurately called the October elections, pointed out that while the first 100 days of an administration was considered the honeymoon period, there were several persons who felt "there can be no honeymoon period as significant challenges have to be faced immediately."
Among these challenges were the continuing high murder rate and a gaping budget deficit.
Last month, Dr. Omar Davies, the Finance and Planning Minister, announced a round of new taxes aimed at raising $205 million in revenues to help finance the $13.5 billion increase in the budget. That move, along with a massive hike in the salaries of Members of Parliament and Government Ministers, triggered a storm of criticism against the Government and might explain some of the negative ratings.
However, a new crime initiative, which relies heavily on the use of the army in volatile communities, has brought a nervous calm to some sections of the capital city, resulting in cautious commendations for the Government.
