KINGSTON, Jamaica – The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says while it is aware of the findings of two opinion polls published recently, the real test for the party will come on Wednesday when Jamaicans elect a new government.
“Our position is, while polls are always useful, they do not determine our strategy. And indeed our strategy is to prepare for election day, because the real poll is really the result in the ballot box and we think we are comfortably placed,” said JLP campaign chairman, Dr Christopher Tufton.
“What we need to do now as supporters, as workers is to do the work for election day Wednesday,” he said in a statement on Sunday
According to the latest RJRGLEANER-commissioned Don Anderson poll published on Sunday, the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has opened a gap over the JLP, which is seeking a third consecutive term in office.
The poll noted that 37.6 per cent of the 1,010 respondents questioned during the period August 22 to 26, indicated they will vote for the PNP, while 34.5 per cent say they will support the ruling party.
The Nationwide/Bluedot poll results published last Friday showed the JLP with a 13-point lead over the PNP. It stated that 46 per cent of the 1,511 registered voters polled from August 19 to 27 said they will vote for the JLP while 33 per cent said they will vote for the PNP.
Tufton said he had taken note of the two polls, saying “we’ve seen polls that have been off”.
He recalled that in 2007 and 2016 when the JLP won the election, the polls conducted by Don Anderson stated that the PNP was marginally ahead.
“So, I’m not going to be overly critical, except to say the real poll for us right now is to do the work on the ground and to ensure that come Wednesday all voters come out and vote for the Jamaica Labour Party. And we are confident in our victory,” he said in the statement.
For its part the PNP published the newspaper headlines showing it ahead of the ruling party , adding “Full speed ahead, September 3”.
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) says 189 candidates, including 53 women, have been nominated to contest the September 3 general election.
According to the EOJ, both the JLP and the PNP) will contest all 63 seats at stake in the elections. The Jamaica Progressive Party (JPP) has entered candidates in 47 constituencies, while seven nominees will represent the United Independents’ Congress (UIC).
The EOJ said that nine candidates will run as independents across constituencies in St Thomas, St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St Catherine, and St Andrew.
According to the EOJ, 2,077,799 people are eligible to vote in Wednesday’s general election with political observers saying that 20 swing states could determine the outcome of the elections.
Since gaining universal adult suffrage in 1944, Jamaica has held 18 general elections with both major parties winning on nine occasions each.
