Almost half of Jamaicans believe that Peter Bunting’s 2019 challenge to the People’s National Party (PNP) president was good for the party, an RJRGLEANER-commissioned Don Anderson survey has revealed.
The Manchester Central member of parliament challenged sitting President Peter Phillips for the helm of the 81-year-old political party.
Phillips prevailed as president with a 76-vote margin.
The poll, conducted between February 8 and 18 among 1,038 respondents islandwide, found that 38 per cent of Jamaicans were not in favour of the challenge, while nine per cent did not know.
Five per cent were not sure.
While 48 per cent of Jamaicans thought the leadership challenge was good for the party, only a 23 per cent minority viewed the PNP as united following the challenge.
Just about six in every 10 Jamaicans said the party was disunited, 12 per cent did not know, and six per cent were not sure.
Jamaicans were also quizzed about whether the present leadership of the PNP could effectively challenge the Jamaica Labour Party.
A general election is due in 2021 but is widely expected to be held this year.
Three in every 10 respondents said yes, and 54 per cent said no, while 10 per cent did not know. Six per cent were not sure.