University Student: Holness Must Capitalise on Unaffiliated Voters to Boost Trust

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, addresses the opening ceremony for the Summit of the Future Action Day 2 at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on Saturday (September 21). The Action Days, from September 20 to 21, brought together representatives from UN Member States, civil society, private sector, academia, local and regional authorities, youth, among others, for broad engagement and inclusion. Prime Minister Holness is participating in the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) under the theme: ‘Unity in Diversity: For the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Everyone’. (Photo Contributed)

Debater and student of Political Science and Economics at Vassar College, Ronaldhino McLean, says Prime Minister Andrew Holness must capitalise on the unaffiliated voters who seem to have a greater trust in him.

He was reacting to the latest Nationwide/Bluedot polls, powered by Total Tools, in which voters have expressed more trust in the prime minister than the government he leads.

Forty-six per cent of Jamaicans polled said they trust the prime minister, compared to the 43 per cent who said they trust his government. 

Public trust in the prime minister was also divided. Forty-three per cent of respondents say they distrust Holness.  That’s just three percentage points less than those who trust him. 

When the trend is considered year on year, trust in the prime minister has actually moved from 40 per cent in September last year to 46 per cent in September this year. 

That’s a six percentage point increase in trust in Mr. Holness since September last year. 

Notably, the level of trust voters are expressing in the prime minister is three percentage points higher than the trust expressed in his government in these same polls. Trust in the government stands at 43 per cent. 

The Nationwide/Bluedot poll, powered by Total Tools, was conducted between September 6th and 19th. It sampled 1,246 respondents and has a margin of error for these polls of +/- 3 per cent. 

McLean, who was speaking on Nationwide at Five on Thursday, notes that the Integrity Commission’s special report into the prime minister’s finances may damage his trust rating.

Ronaldhino McLean, debater and student of Political Science and Economics at Vassar College.