Jubilant Premier Ewart Brown last night hailed a "new day in Bermuda" — and warned there was much healing to do following a tough war.

The Premier and a host of his Progressive Labour Party colleagues whipped thousands of supporters into a frenzy with a long series of victory speeches on Court Street last night.

Most thanked PLP followers for their support while many poked fun at Michael Dunkley's failed attempt to win the Smith's North seat from Patrice Minors.

Dr. Brown said he had been through a difficult few weeks, thanked his family and asked for patience in delivering the PLP's promises.

"The first thing I want to say to you is thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you," the Premier told the crowd in the night's final speech.

"I'm so proud. I'm so proud to represent you. I'm proud to lead this group of leaders. It's a new day in Bermuda. Some people have said to me: 'How are you managing to get through when the arrows are coming and the nasty letters are coming in the mailbox?'. People ask the question: 'How do you remain strong?'."

He then read a psalm written on a piece of paper to cheers from the crowd and introduced wife Wanda and two of his sons to the stage.

He said: "We have work to do. What I have said to the candidates, and what I will say to your new Governor, is that we have won the election, now we must execute the agenda.

"Let me ask you to bear with us because my job now is to lead the country — those who want it and those who don't. My job is to help us heal after this tough war."

The Premier said Bermuda faces tough challenges, which must not be "swept under the rug" and urged party members not to desert them when the going gets tough. "Bermuda is a place that has been divided for a long time. You found it that way, I found it that way. We have to go to work on it. But we don't do it by denying that it exists," he said.

He also pledged promises would be kept to help struggling mothers and seniors, and that the Big Conversation would continue.

Earlier during the celebrations, he had told The Royal Gazette: "I expected a convincing victory. I know many months ago I called for 30 seats, but a victory like this one is just as sweet."

Asked what he thought about Mrs. Minors' victory over Mr. Dunkley, he said: "Special. Very special," and said he had recently heard Mr. Dunkley say his next press conference would be in Cabinet.

Asked if he had anything to say about potential challenges to his position from colleagues, he replied: "I don't know of any."

In her speech, Deputy Premier Paula Cox said: "In 1998, we had a date with destiny. In 2003, we showed it's better the second time round. In 2007, we had passion.

"We recognise that there is a price for the prize, and the price is delivering what we promised you."

Ms Cox repeated her belief that the United Bermuda Party's proposal to grant Bermuda Status to long-term residents would mortgage the birthright of Bermudians.

Zane DeSilva, who took the stage to a huge roar, said: "I'm proud to be a member of the PLP."

He said his defeated opponent David Dodwell's new hotel would be selling warm and cold milk.

Former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith screamed: "Where is the milkman?" and then suggested Dean Foggo may have hung onto his St. George's West seat if more people had voted.

Mr. Foggo took to the stage himself to salute Mr. DeSilva, saying: "To know that Zane DeSilva got in. You may have lost the fight in Constituency Two, but I tell you we won the war. With this PLP, the best is yet to come."

Dennis Lister, who held his Sandys North Central seat, took a swipe at Mr. Dunkley, saying: "We are going to give him the time to milk all the things he wants to milk."