It's still only the beginning of a mammoth journey, but Bermuda Democratic Alliance believes it's already come a long way since six men sat in Mark Pettingill's kitchen and declared: "If we build it they will come."

And while 325 people packed into a hall at Fairmont Southampton on Saturday night — cheering and whooping as their newly elected chief pledged a different style of leadership for Bermuda — BDA is hoping there's a good few more to come yet.

Some party members even started dancing as Craig Cannonier took to the stage for his acceptance speech at the end of the Alliance's first conference.

Not quite the fireworks and deafening chants of a Progressive Labour Party rally but a far cry, many were quick to point out, from what you typically might find at a United Bermuda Party get-together.

The true test, according to some neutral observers, will come when the BDA rolls out its platform in the coming days to reveal its hand on key issues — and prove it's more than just a younger, fresher UBP.

An upbeat evening began with guests queuing at computer terminals to sign up as members and, following a series of speeches — most notably from the booming Mr. Cannonier — ended with Mr. Pettingill predicting victory at the next General Election.

In between, founding members and Donte Hunt and Sean Pitcher patrolled the aisles, beaming at the turnout which included a mix of races and ages Mr. Hunt said reflected the diversity of Bermuda.

The audience leant slightly towards the younger generation but included a fair number of older faces, while there appeared to be a roughly equal number of blacks and whites; with what seemed like a high white collar representation. Many of those present have been with BDA since its early days when six politicians walked out on the UBP citing frustration at the constant warring between the two established parties.

Others were there just to see what all the fuss was about — with some telling The Royal Gazette they're convinced BDA is onto something.

Tia Hartmann, a PLP member who campaigned for the governing party at the last election, was there to support her cousin Mr. Cannonier.

"I may be a PLP member still, but I'm not exactly still a PLP supporter, so I came to see what this is about," Ms Hartmann told this newspaper.

"It's actually pretty good. I think I might join. These guys have not created a party; they have created a movement.

"They have to keep the momentum going, they need a constitution that works, and they need to start putting out the platform, putting out an understanding of where they stand."

One man said: "It was pretty good. It's interesting to see what's going on. I've voted UBP in the past and I still have to listen to these guys to see what they bring to the table. I don't know. I don't know. But this is something different."

Another man who has joined the Alliance said: "Bermuda needs a new direction. It needs a fresh start. Too much has gone wrong in the last few years. We need fresh faces, fresh vision. We need leaders with vision and I think we have that."

Greg Singleton, of Hamilton Parish, a long-term resident who cannot vote but attended out of interest, said: "What impressed me was the group itself as a whole. They all come from various backgrounds. I think they believe in what they are doing, but for some reason in my heart I believe they can really make a difference."

Founding MP Shawn Crockwell had kicked off the conference, saying: "I stand before you at the dawn of a new decade, and a new era. The Bermuda Democratic Alliance was formed because you and I looked at the way Bermuda was being governed, and believed that the people of Bermuda deserved better."

And newly elected chairman Michael Fahy said: "Since our launch in November, we have been in your homes, in meeting halls and at events across Bermuda, spreading the message of change and of something different. That is why you are here tonight."

Warwick West MP Mr. Pettingill gave the evening's concluding speech, saying: "Six months ago, six guys sat in a kitchen and said, 'What are we going to do?'

"We asked ourselves questions, 'Do you think that this will work?' but we thought, 'If we start to build it they will come.

"What about leadership? We said if we start to build it, a leader will emerge."

He continued: "A leader more than emerged," before pointing at Mr. Cannonier and predicting: "I believe the next Premier of this Country."

Mr. Pettingill added: "We laid a brick. We had a better vision. We believed this Country wasn't working the way we want it to work for us and our children, our families.

"We must fulfil this task. We have many roads to cross together. We can't rest on our laurels. We have many miles to go. We can't stop here. Not with this energy; not with this leader, not with this group of people.

"We have to start a campaign to win an election. If we want to bring about real change, we have to get real. We have to become the Government of this Country."