Bermudians backed the new Government.

But Sen. Kim Swan sounded a warning that the traditional honeymoon period for a new administration would not last.

And he said the PLP's first Budget would be the first test for the PLP Government -- and of public opinion.

Sen. Swan added: "The poll results just go to show there is a level of maturity in Bermuda and that's why we will see people are positive in that respect -- but we're still waiting.'' And he said: "Bermuda is prepared to give the new Government a chance.

"Even from the UBP's standpoint, we can't just come out after a defeat and start swinging.

"They still have to formulate some policy and opinion -- we're still waiting for that to take shape.

"Government has been on automatic pilot and that's only to be expected at this stage.'' But Sen. Swan added: "Many of us are waiting for the Budget to come round so we can see if there are any major shifts from what the UBP has done in the past.'' PLP Finance Minister Eugene Cox, however, has already signalled a cautious Budget based on plans inherited from the UBP due to the short timescale between the election and the February financial blueprint for the coming year.

And that means the first fully PLP-crafted Budget will not be unveiled until the turn of the Century.

Sen. Swan stood in the St. George's North constituency held by now-Premier Jennifer Smith and PLP newcomer Delaey Robinson and was appointed as an Opposition Senator when the UBP formed its first-ever Opposition.

He was speaking after an independent survey showed a total of 69 percent believed the PLP Government was very good or generally good for the Island.

And only five percent held out a gloomy view of the result, rating the new Government as generally very bad for Bermuda.

And a majority of those surveyed who backed the losing UBP in November -- 54 percent -- viewed the outcome as good, compared to the 16 percent who voted for the outgoing Government who saw the result as bad.

But those surveyed did say education, the decline in tourism and housing were the concerns the new Government should tackle first.

The economy and the crime rate came in joint fourth -- with drugs problems rated sixth on the list of worries, but with just five percent of those surveyed singling it out as the Island's top priority.

The Bermuda Omnibus Survey is carried out quarterly among a 400-strong sample of residents.

It was conducted between December 18 and 20 last year -- just over a month after the November 9 poll which swept the PLP to victory.

The pollsters claim the random sample is accurate to within plus or minus 4.9 percent in 95 out of 100 cases.

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