NNN/Bluedot Poll: Divided Views On Golding’s Suitability to Lead PNP

A plurality of Jamaicans, 18 per cent, say Opposition Leader Mark Golding is extremely poorly suited to lead the People’s National Party, PNP.

That’s the finding of the latest Nationwide/Bluedot poll, powered by Total Tools. The poll was conducted between September 6 and 19. It has a margin of error of +/- 3 per cent.

Nora Gaye Banton reports.

Mark Golding has been leading the opposition PNP since November 2020. Since taking over the reins, the PNP has made efforts to package Golding as a strong alternative leader to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

In April, PNP general secretary, Dr. Dayton Campbell, noted that Mark Golding was growing into a strong political contender.

The latest Nationwide/Bluedot poll has revealed almost a balance in overall scepticism and support for the opposition leader and PNP president.

Overall, 18 per cent of respondents rated Mark Golding as extremely poorly suited to lead the PNP. Another 16 per cent say Golding is exceptionally well suited to lead the party.

Among unaffiliated voters, 14 per cent believe Golding is extremely poorly suited to lead his party, while 7-percent share the opposite view.

Respondents who identified themselves as Comrades held the strongest level of support for their party leader. Forty-two per cent of PNP supporters say Golding is exceptionally well suited to lead their party. Only 3 per cent of PNP supporters believed he was not fit for the job.

Of those who identified as Labourites, 36 percent of them rated Golding as extremely poorly suited to lead the PNP. Another 5 per cent of JLP supporters rated Golding as exceptionally well suited.

Meanwhile, in a breakout of the data, older voters were the most critical of Golding’s leadership of the PNP.

Among those aged 65 years and older, 26 per cent rated Golding as extremely poorly suited, while 17 per cent see him as exceptionally well suited.

Middle-aged voters showed stronger support for the opposition leader’s performance as PNP president. Among those in the 45 to 54-years-old band, 28 per cent rated Golding as exceptionally well suited.

Voters between the ages of 25 to 34 and 18 to 24 are the least enthusiastic about his leadership at the helm of the 86-year-old party.

Those aged 25 to 34, 16 per cent of them, say Golding was extremely poorly suited for the job, while 12 per cent say he’s exceptionally well suited. For those 18 to 24 years old, only 9 per cent believe he’s exceptionally well suited.

Another 12 per cent rated him as extremely poorly suited to lead the PNP.