Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

People's National Party President Portia Simpson Miller is in no mood to set a departure timetable

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, says she is 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.

failed at the polls

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 says, claiming this as a signal that the Jamaican people want to see her return as prime minister. "They want to see me back at Jamaica House," Simpson Miller states.

best choice to lead

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. Phillips has not admitted to being a part of any such move, but if one takes place, Simpson Miller says she is not worried.

"I think presently, I do enjoy the support of the majority of the party members, enjoy a high level of support from a number of leaders of the party, and I enjoy great support from the party members out there," she states confidently.

When Simpson Miller assumed office as prime minister, she had a phenomenal 78 per cent approval rating. That, however, has plummeted to 41 per cent, according to the Bill Johnson polls which were conducted last November. Her unfavourability rating was 39 per cent. Conversely, Golding's favourability rating was 46 per cent when the poll was conducted.

'I will be Prime minister again'

Simpson Miller says she will turn that around soon. "Mr Golding was behind me. He is prime minister now and he is ahead of me. But I am going to get ahead of him and be prime minister again," she asserts.

"If Mr Golding calls the election, trust me, I am going to work so hard, when I am finished I hope you will come back to me for an interview because you would be interviewing me as prime minister," says Simpson Miller.

She says the JLP has been a failure and has disappointed Jamaicans.

not leaving politics now

"A lot of Jamaicans, particularly the young people, were saying they have never experienced a JLP government," remarks Simpson Miller. "I think they have got a good taste of the JLP now, and I am sure that those who were saying 'mi and mi neighbour a vote fi Labour' are now saying 'mi and mi neighbour a suffer under Labour'. I can tell you that I am going to take the party back to victory," adds Simpson Miller.

"I just feel it in my bones. I am not leaving politics now; I have no intention to leave politics now; only God almighty can move me from politics now. I am not leaving to go anywhere, not yet. I have more energy, I have more determination, more strength, more conviction than ever before," asserts Simpson Miller.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com