We asked our readers for reaction to the general election result last night. Here are some of their comments.Sonya Fuller: This is a historic time and historic election. Record crime, high unemployment, IB sceptical, tourism down, education in need of major overhaul and that’s just some of issues OBA faces. My hope now is that things can turn around. No more race baiting, distractions or divisions among the people. Change will come but it was take time, hard work and perseverance. One people One BermudaPat Ferguson: It is midnight December 17, 2012 and I am still waiting for the final results in this most historic election. Judging by what has transpired so far in this election, it is unbelievable that a party which has only been organised for less than two years has accomplished. So far the OBA has done a tremendous job, and when Premier Paula Cox along with a former Premier Jennifer Smith are knocked out, it shows the people of Bermuda have had enough and are ready for a change.They have just announced the OBA is the winner of this 2012 election and I can truthfully tell you that thousands of Bermudians are elated. They say it is not over until the fat lady sings. Well, she has sung her song and sung it loud and clear.The OBA has a big job ahead of them and now they have to get down to the business of cleaning up a monumental mess the PLP Government has created.Congratulations OBA — many didn’t believe me when I said you were going to be the next Government. Now we can move forward and I want to personally thank you for a job well done. I only wish that I could have been of more help to you. Well done! God bless Bermuda and her people!Nasri: 19-17, with one seat won by four votes ... how much closer could it have got?! WOW! Essentially, Premier Cox let the party down by not winning her seat and more so, by totally timing the election at the wrong time. If she held it before July 2011, the party would have won. She did not seem to keep the interests of the party above self. OBA deservingly won and have a chance at making some changes to repair the economy with some bold steps.Robert Davies: This election reminded me of being a boy in the living room as the votes came in and the PLP win. Truly that was a historic election, but I believe this one in 2012 is one as well with all the various factors that came to play. The election was tense and dramatic and the result leaves a difficult task ahead for governance in Bermuda. However, Paula can now truly be just a cog in the wheel as her days are over.As for Renee Webb's repeated comments that the OBA is a coalition. No dear, it is not. It is a party made up of all walks of life. So, in that sense yes it's a coalition, but in the sense you meant that it’s just BDA and OBA joined, you are false.Congratulations OBA! I wish you all the best. Please help to fix this broken island, the battle is still uphill for you, but the people of Bermuda have mandated you to be our leaders. Do so with integrity and open minds/hearts.Some things I want to see established aside from the obvious reduction in crime and increase in jobs are: Fixed term elections and proportional presentation elections. These are elements of a healthier democratic society and lessens the uncertainty that goes on around election time.Not given: Congratulations to all the winning candidates and thank you to all for putting yourselves out there in the public domain. My wish is that this win will bring a new era of tolerance and respect for all residents of this Island. The hatred and vitriol must stop and it begins at the top. Good luck OBA — you've started with a bad hand but if you can succeed at uniting the country it will be so much better for all of us!Keen Observer: A well-earned victory for the OBA. Finally, the nightmare is ended. Best of luck going forward, Bermuda. To the PLP, lose the racist mindset. Focus now on doing what's best for Bermuda. It will be a very long time before you guys get back in power.Glued to the TV: It’s the end of the election and a result I can hardly believe! The hard work and determination of the OBA has paid off. I really thought that the PLP was going to win again based on what I was hearing on the street. Phew! There is hope for BERMUDA!!! Thank goodness — a new path forward which has been desperately needed for some time.The people recognised that Bermuda was being pulled down a dangerous path of over spending from which there would be no hope of recovery. The people recognised that Bermuda belongs to all of us and we all need to do our part and stand together as … ONE BERMUDA!Now, let’s all get behind the OBA and save our precious country!TH said: I sat and watched the results come in from various sites — checking and rechecking, whilst writing my projected results on my daughter’s Christmas activity sheet, in crayon no less! And I was prepared for a close vote. I wasn't really prepared for an OBA win. But when we saw the win coming I suddenly had the realisation that we might actually have this.I did a high five with my one-year-old son. Then he twirled in a circle, cooing. Not sure he understood the significance of today. I felt pride in my country for making a change in mentality, but I also felt like this was just the first step.The OBA gave metrics in their platform, 2,000 jobs created! They gave us benchmarks to mark them against. Bermuda, keep count because for once we have the ability to say, here is EXACTLY what you promised. Deliver or else. That's democracy. I'm gonna be just as hard on the OBA as I would be on the PLP, if not harder. I expect them to do what we've asked so much from the PLP. Be transparent, be fair, be for Bermuda. ALL Bermuda.In 1998 we counted that year as one that we voted for change. Mark 2012 down as one of those years as well.Bermuda male: It is all over. and the PEOPLE have spoken! Tomorrow, we who supported the change with the OBA will head to work with a feeling of hope and enthusiasm. We will start investing again and creating jobs. Those jobs will be open to you, whether you voted for the OBA or not. We will work for everyone in BDA. You who supported the PLP have not lost, you can celebrate, a change for the better is here. Move forward together.Stun Gun Man: The international community has no doubt been watching this "changing-of-the-guard" very closely and are extremely relieved at the final outcome! I'm sure there will be a lot of help offered to them by leading experts in their respective fields, particularly economics and tourism.Banned User: Well I'm just not as excited as everyone else seems to be now that it's over. People think the OBA is our saving grace. I don't think they are. I know how Michael Dunkley is. I know how a lot of their members are and they aren't very caring about us "regular folk" (I hope they prove me wrong). That's not even a race thing, it's a everyone thing. I am just waiting to see what they will do before I celebrate them is all.Pundit: Congratulations OBA candidates and volunteers! You've earned this victory with your hard work and common sense. Do us proud!Bermudian American: Wow! For a moment I thought that Bermuda would go to the polls and uphold the status quo. Instead, the electorate took a calculated risk and put in a new party. Congratulations Bermuda, congratulations OBA and Mr Cannonier! Now get to work!Bdablack: OBA you are now the landlord, you are no longer the tenants. Owning the house is just the start. For too long we had a government that had a landlord title but acted like tenants. The job of rebuilding begins tonight. A short party of exuberance and jubilation, tomorrow it’s back to work to correct this mess we have in our country.There are lessons to be learned. Both the UBP and the PLP are gone. Never forget, you are the public servants and that shall be a good starting point. OBA congratulations!!! There are very stormy seas ahead, so don't think this will be a cake walk. If you continue with the hard work that got you this historic victory Bermuda will benefit.