PLP gains ground

The Progressive Labour Party has seized on a recent poll that indicates their party has gained ground amongst Bermuda voters.

The OBA, on the other hand, said the country is on the road to economic recovery while acknowledging that progress has not been quick enough for some. 

The poll, released by Profiles of Bermuda, stated that if an election were to be held tomorrow, 44 per cent of those surveyed would vote for the Opposition PLP. That marks a 14 per cent gain since a March 2012 poll. Thirty seven per cent of those polled this time around said they would cast their ballot for the ruling One Bermuda Alliance, which is down 2 per cent since March 2012.

Opposition leader Marc Bean said through a statement: “These poll results show a Bermuda that is becoming more and more disillusioned with the OBA government, and looking to the PLP as a Government-in-Waiting. We will continue advocating on behalf of Bermudians and working hard to represent our constituents. We will be presenting ideas and a vision that sees Bermudians prosper in our own country. We thank the people for their support but there is much work to be done, and we will continue holding the Government's feet to the fire, fighting for transparency, accountability, and openness.”

The numbers indicate that the PLP is picking up support amongst undecided voters — a group that was reduced from 23 per cent in 2012 to 12 per cent this time around.

The margin of error for the poll is 5 per cent, meaning that statistically speaking, an election now would be a dead heat.  The survey was conducted among 375 registered voters between March 20 and May 18.

Cordell Riley, the statistician who spearheaded the poll, said the previous poll had been taken in March 2012, at a time when many Bermudians were disenchanted with both major parties.

He thinks many disenchanted voters who had historically supported the PLP stayed away from the polls that December, when the OBA won with 51 percent of the vote. Some may have now returned to supporting the PLP, which would explain the most recent poll results.

Additionally, the OBA were elected on big ideas — more jobs, reduction in debt and an economic revival.

‘Poor communication’

“We have not seen any of those things,” said Mr Riley.

The OBA needs to do a better job of communicating the direction the government is headed in, he said: “There’s been a huge lack of communication that continues to fuel disenchantment,” he said. 

The OBA, through a spokesman, said yesterday: “Opinion polls demonstrate a rise and fall in support for the Government according to the issues of the day. The OBA Government has been implementing a comprehensive recovery plan to restore jobs and opportunity for Bermudians and stability to the country’s finances. 

“We know  the pace of recovery has not been fast enough for the many who continue to struggle, but we are confident the island is now moving in the right direction for them. Until we get there, it is natural for the government to see some erosion in support.”