UWI Professor of Sustainable Development and security expert, Anthony Clayton, says Jamaica is in dire need of politicians who are serious about reducing crime and corruption in the country.
He was reacting to the latest Nationwide/Bluedot poll, powered by Total Tools.
Mahiri Stewart reports.
The poll, conducted between September 6 and 19, found that crime and corruption are the top two concerns affecting the Jamaican people.
Speaking on Nationwide at Five on Monday, Professor Clayton says it’s clear that most Jamaicans have little confidence that either the governing Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, or the opposition People’s National Party, PNP will meaningfully reduce crime.
Thirty-nine-per cent of respondents say crime is the most pressing issue affecting the country. This is a 10 percentage point increase compared to the 29 per cent polled in February 2024.
Concerns over corruption have also increased. It moved from fourth in the rankings in February 2024 to second in September. Fifteen per cent of respondents identified it as a pressing concern. That’s compared to 11 per cent in February.
It’s also the first time since 2021 that corruption has featured among the top two concerns for Jamaicans.
Professor Clayton says until political parties remove corrupt persons from public life, they are merely doing lip service to the issue.
According to Professor Clayton, the party most serious about crime and corruption has the most electoral prospect for success.
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