15 / 22
The Attractions and Negatives of the 2 Political Parties
The data show that the lure of the PNP is the perception that they cater to the needs of the poor and
working class better than their opponents, and are eveninclusive of poor JLPs; “are the ones who built
the country” (physical infrastructure); are usually stable and well organized; and have a better team of
candidates to carry the country forward – “riding right now on the recently publicized achievements of
Peter Phillips in an area that the JLP normally try to distinguish themselves.” The Jamaican people,
however, remain with anxieties related to the economy; are upset that the Government is slow to break
its ‘populist’ trend and weed out poorly performing MPs. For this and other reasons 6 percent of the
sample accused the Government of corruption. Some persons even suggested that the Government had
become complacent because the JLP had become a weak opposition. Consequently, 4 percent of the
sample (7 of the poor and working class) complained that they felt neglected (personally, and also at the
community and parish levels).
The study shows that the lure of the JLP is comparably weak leading to this election. This becomes
obvious when charts 11 and 13 are compared. The Party’s best selling point is that “they usually stabilize
the economy as soon as they come in.” Labourites, however, expressed serious concern to researchers
that “It kind of sticky now though to use the economics card when the IMF and everybody saying that
Peter Phillips is doing well.” The second ‘card’ put forward by some Labourites(Free Education and
Health Care) in the study was also shot down by Comradesand even other Labourites. Note that in Chart
14 respondents suggested that attempts at free education and health care was a failure. Nonetheless,
the biggest problem for the JLP is that Jamaicans perceive them as being in constant conflict – internally
or external. Significantly more respondents also described them as corrupt than they did the PNP; and
some respondents (JLP included) went as far as to say that “they lost the Jamaican people long ago and
just remain there to hustle.” Even the JLP’s distinction of “reducing crime better than the PNP”was
questioned by respondents who harshly criticized the Tivoli Incursion. The main ray of light that was
found in the positives of the JLP rest on the perception that “they have a team of young candidates, who
if given a chance, may make it a viable party sooner than later.”
15