THE COST OF LIVING is the major concern for more than 40 per cent of Barbadians island-wide.

This was revealed by the latest figures presented in the NATION/CADRES poll conducted this month and which sought to "identify and address the major issues that trouble Barbadians, using several different techniques".

In fact, the percentage of people worried about the cost of living in Barbados tripled with issues like crime (11.6 per cent), unemployment (10.4 per cent), housing (9.9 per cent) and the economy (7.5 per cent).

The figures also showed that 42.4 per cent of those who were categorised as "uncertain voters", meaning those uncertain about their commitment to any political party, were also preoccupied with the cost of living.

"It is interesting that there is little difference in the ranking of issues of concern to certain and "uncertain voters"," the poll states.

In both groupings crime was second with unemployment and housing next among their major concerns, while for the uncertain voters it was housing and unemployment in that order.

Moreover, since unemployment, housing and the economy are considered cost of living-related issues, close to 70 per cent of respondents proved to be preoccupied with the cost of living.

(TM/AC)

Please see also

Pages 10 and 14.