THE HIGH level of crime and violence is still the most serious problem facing Jamaica, according to a poll commissioned by The Gleaner and conducted by Don Anderson and his team from Market Research Services Ltd.
Just over 52 per cent of those who participated in the poll cited the runaway crime rate as the country's most pressing problem. Since January, 643 persons have been killed violently.
One thousand persons 18 years old and over across the island's 14 parishes took part in the poll, conducted between September 4 and 11 with a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent.
The problem of crime and violence has for the last three to five years been regarded as one of the real issues that the country has had to deal with, Mr. Anderson pointed out.
"It is the first occasion, however, on which crime and violence has emerged as so significant a concern among Jamaicans from all walks of life," he said in his analysis of the results.
Unemployment was listed as the number two problem by 33 per cent of all persons polled. Mr. Anderson pointed out that no other concern was remotely considered to be anywhere as important as unemployment and crime and violence. "It is a clear indication of the extent to which the nation has become preoccupied with this twin problems of crime and violence and unemployment," emphasised Mr. Anderson.
