Tufton: JLP sees momentum in polls but maintains ‘alternative views’

By: Kimone Francis

Image caption: Dr Christopher Tufton, chairman of the JLP’s Campaign Committee.

Chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Campaign Committee Dr Christopher Tufton says the party has acknowledged “some similarities” between internal polls and public opinion polls but holds “alternative” views in other areas.

Tufton, who was speaking at a JLP media briefing Thursday afternoon, said that while the party has shied away from speaking on public polls, it is not its position to criticise or “attack” them.

“We observe. We assess. We listen and then determine how we position ourselves in terms of our response, our feedback, and, indeed, our policies and programmes. We observe what is done independently of us, and we conduct our own internally because it is important for us to recognise a sense of direction and the public’s perception of our direction,” said Tufton.

His comment comes days after Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness told journalists on Nomination Day on Monday that he did not rely on polls conducted by veteran pollster Don Anderson and would not advise anyone to do so because they were not accurate.

Holness was commenting after the release of the favourability ratings from the RJRGLEANER-commissioned Don Anderson poll of him and Opposition Leader Mark Golding.

Since then, the RJRGLEANER Communications Group – of which The Gleaner is a member – released the parties’ standings, which show both the JLP and the People’s National Party (PNP) in a statistical dead heat ahead of the September 3 election.

The findings show the JLP’s support increasing by 4.3 percentage points from 29.6 per cent in May-June to 33.9 per cent in August, its biggest gain in five polls. The undecided bloc fell 6.4 points, from 37.8 per cent to 31.4 per cent.

The PNP also climbed, moving 2.1 percentage points from 32.6 per cent to 34.7 per cent though its increase was smaller than the JLP’s. The 0.8 percentage point gap is well within the poll’s ±3 per cent margin of error.

Anderson’s Market Research Services Limited conducted the survey from August 2-11 among 1,008 registered voters.

Not a reason to be complacent

Tufton said based on all the public opinion polls seen and those conducted internally, the JLP is comfortable that it has the momentum going into the September 3 election.

He said it is a comfortable position to be in but not a reason to be complacent.

“It’s not a reason to become arrogant. It’s not a reason to feel, as some may be tempted to do, that somehow it is over. That’s not our position at all. Our position is that we will continue to work harder for the support of the Jamaican people in order to secure a third term,” he said.

He said that while the polls offered some insights, the JLP has formed its own views based on its own surveys.

“We believe that there are some similarities in some areas, and in other areas, we have alternative views. But we’re comfortable and confident in our approach, in our strategy, and we will continue to pursue that approach and strategy going forward,” said Tufton.

Meanwhile, he said he would not telecast any seat count, noting that his job was to provide strategic guidance.

He said the JLP was confident in its candidates and policies and of victory.

“I have been consistent in saying that all 63 candidates that we have fielded are competent, qualified, and can provide leadership and are attractive candidates. And our job is to give all of them an equal opportunity to be successful because we believe that the Labour party is the best party to carry the country forward,” he said.

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