PORTIA SIMPSON Miller has been rated by a sampling of Jamaicans as the best performing Minister, while Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Omar Davies is seen as the worst in the Cabinet.These are findings of a poll conducted between January 10 and 21 by Don Anderson on behalf of The Gleaner. A total of 1,105 persons were interviewed islandwide in 56 different communities. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 per cent.
Mrs. Simpson Miller, the Tourism and Sport Minister, was viewed by 32.1 per cent of respondents as having done the best job among all Ministers. She was followed by National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips, who 15.4 per cent of respondents felt was the best Minister.
Karl Blythe, the Water and Housing Minister, was next in line with 9.7 per cent, followed by embattled Industry, Commerce and Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell, with 6.9 per cent.
Only 0.1 per cent of those interviewed felt Information Minister Colin Campbell was the best Minister and 0.4 per cent rated Labour and Social Security Minister Donald Buchanan, the best Minister.
Persons were responding to the question: "Which Minister of Government is doing the best job?"
Mrs. Simpson Miller was rated the best performer in all sectors, with the exception of older persons 55 and over. Dr. Phillips, on the other hand, has the highest regard among older persons, upper income groups, and those from Kingston.
Dr. Blythe's best showing was among residents of Westmoreland, St. Ann and Hanover, where he was the best rated Minister in each case.
When asked to rate the worst performing Minister, 16.5 per cent of respondents said Dr. Davies had done the poorest job. He was followed by former National Security and Justice Minister K.D. Knight with 14.4 per cent.
Next in line is Dr. Phillips with 8.7 per cent, followed by Mr. Paulwell with 7.6 per cent. Only 0.4 per cent of the respondents felt that Mrs. Simpson Miller was the worst Minister.
"There is no doubt that the present state of the economy, perceived by many persons to be in a bad way, is being used as a yardstick of measurement and evaluation of the performance of Davies," said Anderson in his analysis.
He added that the simultaneous positive and negative ratings of Dr. Phillips and Mr. Paulwell have to do with the fact that they both have very high-profile portfolios.
In the case of Dr. Phillips, his positive rating outweighs the negative. However, this is not the case with Mr. Paulwell, whose negative rating outweighs his positive rating.
