Residents say South East St Mary is heading in wrong direction
Residents of South East St. Mary have identified poor roads, like this one in Enfield, as one of the reasons why they will not support the PNP candidate in next week's elections.
The state of the infrastructure, like this bridge and gully in Annotto Bay, is of concern to residents in South East St. Mary. - Photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Tuesday | August 28, 2007
IF HARRY Douglas is depending on the 'Portia factor' to take him to victory in South East St. Mary next week, he may want to reconsider.
His constituents believe that the country and their constituency are heading in the wrong direction. They have said that crime and jobs are the most pressing problems facing the country and have added poor road conditions to this list when they localised the issues being faced by the constituency.
MP replacement
Douglas, who a majority of the 480 residents surveyed in his constituency on August 12 believe should be replaced as the Member of Parliament, is locked in a tight race with Tarn Peralto for the seat. Douglas will have to dig deep to be elected to the Parliament for a fifth consecutive time.
Despite the hype generated by the emergence of PNP president Portia Simpson Miller to the leadership of the country and the phenomena - Portia Factor, that she has taken onto herself, South East St. Mary has seen very little difference between her and JLP leader Bruce Golding.
Who is fit for the job?
Responding to the question: 'As things stand now, who do you think would do a better job as Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller or Bruce Golding?', 46 per cent of those surveyed said Simpson Miller compared to 44 per cent who said Golding. Ten per cent were undecided.
Simpson Miller enjoys an approval rating of 49 per cent in South East St. Mary and a 41 per cent disapproval rating.
Simpson Miller also enjoys better favourability ratingthan that of Golding. Fifty-seven per cent of the respondents had a favourable opinion of the Prime Minister while 35 per cent had an unfavourable opinion of her.
Of Golding, 49 per cent had a favourable opinion of him while 41 per cent had an unfavourable opinion of the JLP leader.
Also, when asked which party will do the best job of governing Jamaica at this time, 46 per cent said the JLPand 45 per cent indicated a preference to the PNP. Nine per cent were undecided.
There is also little daylight between both the JLP and the PNP as it relates to the way the parties are viewed by residents. Fifty per cent have a favourable opinion of the PNP while 43 per cent have an unfavourable opinion of that party. For the JLP, 47 per cent of the residents have a favourable opinion of the JLP and 46 per cent have an unfavourable opinion of the party.
As things now stand, do you think Harry Douglas deserves to be re-elected as your MP?
