THE MAJORITY of Jamaicans remain unconvinced that the opposition Jamaica Labour Party has done enough to warrant being elected to office in the upcoming general election, according to the latest Gleaner-Don Anderson public opinion poll.

The pollster and his team from Market Research Services Ltd. found that 55.6 per cent of all persons surveyed do not intend to vote for the JLP. This compares with 36 per cent who said the JLP was worthy and deserving of forming the next Government; 8.1 per cent said they were not sure.

According to Mr. Anderson's analysis, for those opposed to the JLP - except the 18 to 24 age group - "there is a fair degree of uniformity among all the segments" that the JLP should not win the next general election. Apart from being young, those who are in favour of the JLP becoming the government are from the lower socio-economic group.

The poll in which 1,119 persons were interviewed in 92 communities islandwide, was conducted from August 1 to 23. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 per cent.

The JLP, which has lost the last three parliamentary elections -- 1989, 1993 and 1997 -- is see king to prevent the governing People's National Party (PNP) from getting a historic fourth term in office.

When the question, "Why do you feel that the JLP deserves to form the next government was asked?", 31.4 per cent of respondents said it would do a better job with the economy than the PNP. JLP Leader Edward Seaga was seen as a "better planner" by 28.7 per cent of those interviewed; 20.9 per cent said a change of government was needed; 13.7 per cent said the JLP deserved a chance; and 2.7 per cent said the party might create more jobs.

However, "the Seaga factor" was the principal reason the majority of those interviewed said the JLP should not form the next Government. A total of 39.5 per cent said he was not a good leader; 16.7 per cent said the party had failed to improve the economy in the past; while 12.4 per cent said there was a need for change from both parties. Seven-point-four per cent said there was no need for a change of government and 6.3 per cent said the JLP was not a united force.

Of those polled, 3.4 per cent said the JLP was just as corrupt as the PNP, while 2.7 per cent said the party was not focused on tackling the twin monsters of crime and violence.