Some stopped in their tracks to watch Barack Obama's inauguration live on TV, while others planned to watch the replay at the end of the working day. Whatever they were doing during yesterday's history-making moment, one thing was common to everyone this newspaper spoke to on the streets of Hamilton yesterday afternoon – President Barack Obama is a good thing. Here's what they had to say:

Karinah Dill, 16, is a student at Saltus.

"We got to watch it at school on a big screen. It was really fun watching it live, you got the impact of when he was announced President. Some people have been through segregation and now they get to see a black President – it's nice for older people."

Fellow Saltus student Ricardo Graham-Ward, also 16, said:

"It's really good having the first black President. We're getting towards world unity and world peace. I didn't catch all of his speech, but from what I heard it was 'wow'."

Derek Bean, 60, from Southampton, is a professional restaurant manager and also does construction work. He was at work on a Front Street construction site when the new President took office, so planned to watch repeats of the coverage later.

"Two years to the date that he won office I was in Chicago with my wife. I took her for her birthday. A white gentleman at the bar introduced me to who Barack Obama was, and I said 'America's not ready for a black President'. Two years to the date, he won nomination. I didn't think it. Not in my time. If he can get the economy of the US rolling that would help tourists to come back into Bermuda. The hospitality industry thrives on the US economy."

Debbie Lewis, 48, from Devonshire, works in human resources at HSBC Bank of Bermuda. She brought in a television set for her co-workers.

"The whole department gathered to watch it. The atmosphere was very quiet during the inauguration. It was great, it very much felt like a historic day. It was a fantastic speech, but he's got a lot of work cut out for him. I don't think people should expect a lot right away, the man's got a big deal on his plate."

Robin Spencer-Arscott, 67, from Paget, has worked in insurance and reinsurance for 40 years. He owns his own company, RSA Services Ltd., is deputy chairman of AAA Risk Solutions Ltd. and is chairman of the World Insurance Forum.

"I didn't watch the inauguration, I was at lunch, but will watch it tonight. It was not because I don't care mind you, the guy's going to be phenomenal. He's a breath of fresh air to the United States and the world. He's very smart. I love the support the people of Bermuda are giving him. It's not just a black thing, it's because he's great. We could not go through another Bush-type person. We need some excitement."

Asked if he felt the Obama administration – which plans to crackdown on 'tax havens' – could be a threat to the Island, Mr. Spencer-Arscott replied: "He's got bigger fish to fry. Bermuda needs to be concerned, but the point is there will be other issues he has to deal with."

His son, Steven Spencer-Arscott said:

"I have dual nationality – my mom is American – and I think it's absolutely phenomenal. I think he's a very smart guy. He's got a lot of issues to deal with but there's no question of whether he's going to live up to those expectations. I think everyone's rooting for him."

Ruth Bowen, 65, from Philadelphia, is on a business trip to Bermuda. She is involved with clinical information systems and watched events on TV as she waited to do a presentation at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

"It was nice to see that all the folks in Bermuda were just as interested I was. It was nice to see there was so much excitement here. I thought his speech was eloquent and I thought it captured the future direction that the world is hoping for. I think people are hopeful and excited."

Sign painter Michael Nimrod, 48, hails from Grenada but currently lives in St. David's. He was working at the time of the inauguration.

"I feel happy about it. I think he's got a lot of work to do and it takes time to do, you know. I feel he will get there day by day. Everybody needs a chance in life. This is a big change, especially the races – with the black and white coming together as one. We still will have it (race-related problems) but a lot of people will change."

Sabine Berg-Swan, from Paget, is from Germany but has lived in Bermuda for 20 years.

"I didn't actually see him become President but I saw his speech. He's the only person of the United States apart from Kennedy who brought tears to my eyes because I believe he's the only one who's able to bring the world back together. For the wrongs that have been done to the African-Americans, to heal them. Hopefully for the whites to understand how important it is and allow us to become one. It's pretty hard, I don't want to be in his shoes because everybody expects too much of him but given time, if he's allowed two terms, I think he can change and make the world a better place."