Premier Jennifer Smith took charge of Bermuda amid an unprecedented outpouring of public emotion.

And thousands of people turned out to cheer as the motorcade carrying Ms Smith and her colleagues drove from her Government House swearing-in ceremony past the party's Alaska Hall HQ on Court Street to the Cabinet Office on Tuesday.

Ms Smith admitted: "It surprised me there were so many people out there.'' But she said the expectations of the first PLP Goverment by the people of the Island did not frighten her.

She added: "It didn't scare me -- it fired me with enthusiasm.'' And new MP Randy Horton said: "It doesn't frighten me because these people are very happy.

"It's very encouraging and it shows they're getting what they wanted.

"There is a lot of expectation out there and they should have expectations when you think about what's here in Bermuda.

"A lot of the people out there are people who haven't enjoyed the prosperity of this Island.'' PLP veteran and ex-party leader Lois Browne Evans admitted she did not expect the massive crowds on Court Street and in the grounds of Cabinet Office.

But she said: "I'm very happy they're here and witnessing the transition of Government to the real people of Bermuda.'' And Mrs Browne Evans said she had no regrets that it had not been her who had led her party to victory.

She added: "I never wanted the leadership -- and now I want to hurry up and get retired.'' Outside the seat of Bermudian Government, Southampton woman Wilma Lowe said: "I feel elated -- my party's won and it's been a long time coming.

A middle aged man added: "I wanted to see our new Premier and join in the celebration -- it's a great day for Bermuda.'' And he said: "I think today we become a true democracy. It's finally possible for a different party to win an election, not just one.'' He added: "I'm hoping first of all they can pull Bermuda together as one people and serve all of them in the best possible way. It's a time for healing.'' Ardette Hartman-Gardner, 28, said it was her first-ever vote because she had been abroad at college for previous elections.

And she said she was sure the young vote was a decisive factor in the PLP's massive majority in the House of Assembly.

Ms Hartman-Gardner added: "I do really believe people my age helped swing it.'' She added: "I also think we have got a much more educated electorate now -- I don't think the vote was made on emotion.'' The air on the Cabinet Office lawns throbbed to the beat of Gombey drummers, who later led a spur-of-the-moment procession along Front Street.

And the crowd erupted into cheers when the Premier's offical car, GP1, was rolled out to collect Ms Smith.

Even visitors stopped to watch the celebration and the spontaneous parade through Hamilton.

Chris Carter, of Maryland, said: "We just had elections back home -- we didn't have anything like this, but I understand this was a bit of an upset here.''