Jamaica ruling party leads in the polls

Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson Miller leads the People's National Party whcih is commanding a lead for the August 27 general elections

KINGSTON, Jamaica, July 25, 2007 - The latest opinion poll in Jamaica puts the ruling People's National Party (PNP) ahead of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to win the August 27 general elections.

According to the Bill Johnson poll commissioned by the Gleaner Newspaper, conducted on 14 and 15 July, 42 per cent supported the PNP being returned to office and 34 for the JLP.

That included 12 per cent of voters, who in a June poll said they were undecided.

Since that June poll, support for the PNP increased by 8 per cent and for the JLP by 6 per cent.

The Gleaner Newspaper said that the campaign so far has been much hot air and little substance.

"When, in the fashion of Donald Buchanan, the People's National Party's general secretary, they are not being banal and puerile, calling people devils and liars, they tend to speak in sound bites, offering little substance. From the perspective of the parties, this approach is entirely appropriate, a consciously cynical act. The assumption is: do not confuse the voters with facts and serious information lest that be held against you as performance criteria," the Gleaner wrote in its editorial.

It cited the issue of education which is a hot campaign topic. The Opposition promises free secondary education but the government said it was too expensive. The newspaper has questioned the definition of "free" and said there is no clarity on whether "free education" will also mean greater access.

Both parties are fielding candidates for the 60-seat parliament in this first-past-the-poll system.

The ruling PNP won 34 seats and the JLP 26 in the 2002 elections which saw a turn out of 56.7 per cent.