More Jamaicans believe that Portia Simpson Miller is doing an average job as opposition leader than those who give her performance a positive rating, according to the latest Observer/Don Anderson Poll.

But 22 per cent of the 1,000 Jamaicans polled islandwide between June 25 and July 2 have given Simpson Miller a negative rating, with some respondents complaining that she is too critical and pushy.

"It is generally easier to rate an incumbent than it is to rate a party or individual in Opposition," said Anderson. "This fact is borne out in the significant number of persons who could definitively rate the performance of the leader of the Opposition."

According to the poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent, 48 per cent of the persons interviewed felt that Simpson Miller's performance was average - neither good nor bad.

"Where answers were given on either the positive or negative level, she had a marginal positive difference in her performance rating," said Anderson.

"Twenty-nine per cent overall gave her a positive rating," added the pollster, who noted that Simpson Miller's strongest support came from males, persons in the 25-44 age group and from the lower socio-economic group.
"Seven per cent overall feel that she is doing a very good job," said the poll.

The factors that condition Simpson Miller's 29 per cent positive rating include:

. 44 per cent who feel she is working for and showing interest in the poor;

. 14 per cent who feel she is doing a good job as opposition leader;

. 10 per cent who consider that she is trying her best; and

. nine per cent who feel she is being very vocal in Opposition.

Simpson Miller created history in February 2006 when she became the first woman president of a major political party in Jamaica after a bruising battle against her People's National Party colleagues Dr Peter Phillips, Dr Omar Davies and Dr Karl Blythe.

After she was sworn in as Jamaica's first woman prime minister on March 30, 2006, she rode a wave of popularity that rose to as high as 75 per cent, as many Jamaicans saw in her an opportunity for change.

However, her popularity started to dip some months later after she told worshippers at a church service that she was anointed by God to rule and her supporters created deeper division in the party by trying to have some of her opponents replaced as candidates.

Her stridency on the hustings was used against her by the then Opposition Jamaica Labour Party in the 2007 general election campaign, and no doubt contributed to Simpson Miller leading the PNP to its first defeat in 18 years, albeit by only four seats.

Since the September elections, Simpson Miller has been very vocal in Opposition, a fact that has won her praise (as highlighted above) as well as criticism.

According to the poll, the factors that condition this negative rating of Simpson Miller can be itemised as follows:

. 16 per cent feel that she criticises and opposes too much;
. 16 per cent see her as too pushy;
. 14 per cent feel that she has done nothing positive;
. 13 per cent feel she needs to be more professional;
. 13 per cent do not see her as effective; and
. 12 per cent do not think she is co-operating with the prime minister.