AFTER SUFFERING a poor performance review in June, the fourth month of his tenure as Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader, Bruce Golding has seen a further decline in his job rating.
Close to 45 per cent of those interviewed in the past month said the Opposition Leader's tenure has been mediocre, neither good nor bad, compared to 48 per cent in June.
However, while there was a slight three per cent decrease in the number of persons who considered Golding's performance average, more than 30 per cent considered his term either poor or very poor, a six per cent increase over the previous poll.
Only 23 per cent of persons were positive about Golding's leadership to date.
The results of the survey come despite attempts by the Golding administration to rally the nation against the long-governing People's National Party which currently presides over a struggling economy in a nation wracked by surging crime and violence.
Just last week, Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas revealed there had been more than 1,440 murders committed for the year, bringing the nation closer to an inevitable breaking of the murder record set last year.
In September, Golding and the JLP led an islandwide strike in protest against the general cost of living just days after consumers were slapped with multiple increases in electricity bill rates.
When quizzed about the Opposition Leader's main achievements since taking office, 10.9 per cent of persons felt his 'standing up for the people' was one such. At the same time, 4.3 per cent made note of his islandwide shutdown.
It was also noted by 9.7 per cent of persons that he seems to have managed to unify the JLP.
"If this is so, then this does in fact represent an important step forward in a party known for its openly fractious style of settling internal differences," Anderson said.
More than 26 per cent of persons, however, said Golding had yet to do anything significant while 24 per cent said they 'did not know'.
While Golding has yet to capture the heart of the nation, only Audley Shaw and Pearnel Charles are viewed as viable alternatives for his post. Shaw, who had considered challenging the current party leader when the post was vacant, commanded 27.5 per cent support as a possible alternative while Charles was favoured by 24.2 per cent of those interviewed.
