Premier Alex Scott?s approval ratings have risen slightly with 33.8 percent of people quizzed in a recent poll pleased with the way he is handling his job.

The figure is an improvement on last November when only 31.9 percent of people approved of his performance.

The latest Research Innovations survey, carried out on behalf of questioned 402 people in a telephone poll between January 10 and 13.

Mr. Scott?s approval rating among blacks has risen from 40.6 percent last November to 48 percent this month. It?s still a stark contrast to the 71.7 percent approval rating he held among blacks in July last year, when his popularity was at its peak.

Among whites, 14.2 percent currently approve of Mr. Scott?s performance, with 76.6 percent disapproving and 9.2 percent not sure.

In terms of gender, of 157 men polled, 36.3 percent approved of Mr. Scott, 50.3 percent disapproved and 13.4 percent were not sure.

Two hundred and thirty nine women were quizzed and of those, 32.6 percent approved of Mr. Scott, 54 percent disapproved and 13.4 percent didn?t know.

The Island?s over-55 age group showed the strongst support for the Premier. Of 159 people asked, 37.7 percent liked his performance.

That compares to 27.9 percent of the 68 people aged 18 to 35 polled and 32.9 percent of the 170 people aged 36 to 54 polled.

In another question, poll participants were asked to say overall whether their opinion of the PLP leader was favourable or unfavourable.

This month, 39.8 percent said favourable, 47 percent said unfavourable and 13.3 percent said they were not sure.

That compares with 41.1 percent giving him the thumbs-up last November and 37.2 the thumbs-down.

Ousted United Bermuda Party leader Grant Gibbons saw his popularity rise slightly in this month?s poll, carried out before he was given the boot in favour of Wayne Furbert.

The figures showed that 39.5 percent of people polled had an overall favourable opinion of him, compared to 37.9 percent last November.

Among 141 whites questioned, 59.6 percent had a favourable opinion of Dr. Gibbons and 19.9 percent an unfavourable opinion.

Of the 200 blacks polled, 28.5 per cent approved of him and 49 percent disapproved.