Waddington as the first woman Premier and the youngest holder of the office.

And she came out fighting, slamming claims that she was just a pretty face and window dressing for United Bermuda Party power brokers.

Ms Gordon blasted as sexist comments by Progressive Labour Party supporter Dale Butler, who described her as "like a beauty queen'' and lacking the intellect of her father, labour legend Dr. E.F. Gordon.

"That's probably the most chauvinistic comment to date,'' she said. "But because I have not proven myself at this level, then people will just have to judge on what I do -- but they must first let me try to do something'' And Ms Gordon, a divorcee, dismissed reports that she was likely to marry again before long.

She said: "I don't know where they got that from -- it's certainly not true.'' UBP MPs, Senators, family and friends crowded Government House as Ms Gordon took the oaths of office.

Ms Gordon's hand shook slightly as she read out her oaths and daughter Veronica, seated behind her, fought back tears.

And at 11.04 a.m. Ms Gordon officially broke the mould of Bermudian politics with a signature.

Lord Waddington's words of congratulation were almost drowned out by thunderous applause from watchers.

She told those gathered to watch the short ceremony that her family's support was the base from which she operated.

Ms Gordon said: "As you are all aware, that's what is most important to me -- that comes first and foremost.

"But with my family behind me and the support of my colleagues we are going to do okay and Bermuda will be fine.'' After the ceremony, Ms Gordon's mother Mildred Bean said Dr. Gordon would have been proud of his youngest child.

Ms Bean said: "He was a labour representative and he fought for the common man -- but the hardest struggle he had was fighting the people he was fighting for and very often he was abused for what he was trying to do.'' And she added: "He wouldn't dare say anything -- he did what he wanted to do and that's one thing I can tell you about my children. No-one controls their minds.

"If any of my children try to do anything, don't try and stop them because I have a bunch of bull-headed children. Nobody walks over any of them.'' Ms Gordon's lawyer daughter Veronica, 25, said: "I feel very proud -- we've come a long way, she's come a long way.'' Son Ronald, 14, a member of the Warwick Academy quiz team which triumphed in an Island-wide competition last weekend, said: "I have called her Premier -- but just as a joke. She's still mum.'' Later on Thursday, Ms Gordon's new Cabinet was also sworn in by Lord Waddington.

As predicted, all Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries retained their posts, while veteran MP Irving Pearman, who decided not to stand in the leadership race, took Ms Gordon's former portfolio of Environment.

After the ceremony, Mr. Pearman said he had been asked to sign up with Ms Gordon's team the day before.

He added he had been asked to join the Cabinet by the previous Premier, David Saul, but had refused on the grounds he had retired from full-time work and there were younger people available.

But Mr. Pearman said: "Having listened to Pam Gordon and heard her views that she was hoping people with prior Ministerial experience and Parliamentary experience would assist her as Bermuda is facing some very major challenges.

"She wanted someone who would be outspoken on sensitive issues -- provided they are being objective and fair.'' Mr. Pearman's first challenge is likely to be over the disposal of tons of asbestos. Government wants to dump it at sea as the safest and cheapest option -- a move opposed by environmentalists -- although no final decision has been taken.

The new Minister said he had to review the files and discuss the problem with Cabinet before he would comment. But he added: "You can't go on forever with this -- we've been debating it for a year-and-a-half. We're still removing asbestos from buildings and the area where it's stored is expanding.'' Premier outlines her programme "We will forge true, modern partnerships that will make Bermuda the envy of the world. We will create the human and community partnerships necessary to attack and defeat our common foes -- drugs, violence and ignorance.'' And she invited MPs, Senators, trades unionists and business to get together to guarantee a good future for today's children.

Ms Gordon acknowledged that the approaches and platforms of the Opposition Progressive Labour Party were different from the UBP's.

But she said: "There are times when all of us must put the problems and challenges facing our Country ahead of political ideology. I would like Bermuda's drive toward the 21st Century to be spirited and cooperative.'' Ms Gordon also paid tribute to her father, legendary labour leader and civil rights activist Dr. E.F. Gordon, and her mother Mildred.

She said: "Those who remember my father's time will attest to the enormous strides Bermuda has taken against racism and discrimination -- his fight and his hope was for equality, opportunity fairness and decency. I guarantee that they are mine as well.

"Those who remember my father's time will also recall that he spent much of his time fighting for a place in the foundations of Bermuda's future success -- the glass ceiling which holds back so many Bermudians today is about to meet Dr. Gordon's daughter.

"I will work, as my father before me, to ensure that all Bermudians have the chance to reach their God-given potential.'' Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But Shadow Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said he welcomed any new offensive in the battle against "the pernicious and evil traffic in drugs''.

He said the PLP had been concerned for years that, while on paper there was commitment to battling drugs, there was little practical action.

Mr. Scott added: "The incidence of drug interdiction and conviction is down.'' And he said that, of drugs cases brought to court, many prosecutions had been unsuccessful.

He added: "We need to take it off the rhetorical plane, just statistics and just promises of a war on crime and actually have one.'' Of Ms Gordon's speech in total, Mr. Scott said he was surprised there had been no mention of the recent dispute over union representation at two drycleaners -- which have since closed their doors because the Bermuda Industrial Union and the owners could not agree on numbers for a union ballot.

Mr. Scott said: "I would like to have heard, since it was a speech intended to sketch the parameters of the new Premier's agenda, specific reference to the most recent injury to labour relations.

"We saw an employer close his shops rather than recognise what is the accepted norm -- the constitutional right for workers to ask for and choose a union to represent them.'' Mr. Scott said the last Premier, David Saul, had pledged laws to guarantee workplace ballots on union certification and decertification.

But Mr. Scott added that Ms Gordon had not mentioned the subject at all, which put a question mark over her commitment to labour.

He said: "Ironically, Ms Gordon started her speech and punctuated it with references to her father, who was one of the founders of labour. We would like to hear her robust commitment to the same degree of rights.'' Mr. Scott added that he had a Constitutional responsibility to review and criticise Labour and Home Affairs legislation -- and said he would continue to do so.

But he said: "We will be as accommodating, as much as we possibly can, to a younger person in the national interest. She knows she can call on us in the Opposition and certainly on me in my Shadow Ministry.'' PREMIER VIP GOVERNOR GOV