KINGSTON – Adamant that she still enjoys the support of the majority of the People's National Party (PNP) members, president Portia Simpson Miller is in no mood to set a departure timetable.

Simpson Miller, who turns 63 in December, said she was working towards taking the PNP back into state power and returning to Jamaica House as prime minister.

P.J. Patterson, Simpson Miller's predecessor, retired from representational politics at age 70.

"I will know when and what time to go. I am going to work hard, reorganise the party, and take it back to victory," she told The Sunday Gleaner.

Simpson Miller was held up as the PNP's only hope of securing a fifth consecutive term in government, but failed last year when she faced the electorate for the first time.

The Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won last September's general election by a four-seat majority in the 60-seat House of Representatives. Simpson Miller believes the party has not distinguished itself after eight months in government.

"When I go on the streets now, the people are shouting, 'Portia! Wi want you back!'," Simpson Miller said, claiming this as a signal the Jamaican people wanted to see her return as prime minister.

"They want to see me back at Jamaica House," Simpson Miller said.

Simpson Miller became PNP president when 47 per cent of the PNP delegates voted for her as the best choice to lead the party during a bruising four-way race. If Simpson Miller is to lead the PNP in an election against the Bruce Golding-led JLP, she will have to hold off a potential leadership challenge from PNP senior vice-president Dr Peter Phillips. There have been reports that party interests allied to Phillips are instigating a challenge on Simpson Miller. (Jamaica Gleaner)