Minister Michael Weeks has vowed to “move from behind his desk to meet the people” as he heads up the newly formed Ministry of Community Development.The former Minister Without Portfolio was yesterday awarded the top job in a Cabinet reshuffle.The main aim of the new ministry will be to bring people together at a time when worsening crime is threatening to tear our communities apart.Mr Weeks has vowed to take a hands-on approach, moving from his office and going out in the streets to find and implement solutions.Premier Paula Cox announced the new appointment at a press conference yesterday saying she wanted the new ministry to “reach the people where they are.” Governor Sir Richard Gozney has agreed the new ministry and the subsequent changes to the portfolios of the Ministries of Youth, Families and Sports and Government Estates and Information Services.Mr Weeks said he was “truly humbled” and “very excited” to be given the opportunity to head up the new ministry, which he described as being “right up my alley.”He said he was ready to rise to the challenge of moving Bermuda forward and “forging ahead into unknown territory.”Mr Weeks said: “While the name of the Ministry may sound familiar to some, let me assure you that the core mandate is anything but.“Community Development is about developing the power, skills, knowledge and experience of people as individuals and in groups.“As a result, they are empowered and enabled to undertake initiatives of their own to identify and address social, economic, political and environmental problems. It is only in so doing, that they can fully participate in a truly democratic process.”One of the key elements of the Ministry will be for Mr Weeks to continue to work through the recommendations of The Mincy Report on young black males. The report by Professor Ronald Mincy was published in May 2010 to try to provide out-of-school youth and young adults the opportunity to get technical and vocational training.It will be Mr Weeks' responsibility to revitalise the National Youth Council to “allow the voices of our youth to be truly heard.” He said he saw youth council members as Bermuda's future leaders, calling them “a force to be reckoned with.”Mr Weeks will also work with the Island's parish councils, charities and community groups to ensure neighbourhoods are served in the best way possible.The Bermuda National Library and Department of Community and Cultural Affairs will also fall under the umbrella of the Ministry of Community Development, moving from Neletha Butterfield's and Glenn Blakeney's portfolios respectively.Mr Weeks said the Ministry would focus on preserving Bermuda's culture while helping to move the Island into the 21st Century.The Minister said he would be knocking on people's doors, attending meetings and generally “going to the people, rather than waiting for them to come to me.”He said: “Community Development cannot be accomplished from behind a desk.“Those who know me already and who know my style will recognise that although I appreciate theory, I am much more interested in action. I am interested in finding resolutions to issues.”Mr Weeks, who is vice president of Western Stars Sports Club, was elected as PLP MP for Pembroke East Central in August 2009 after the death of Minister Nelson Bascome.The relative newcomer to politics quickly rose through the ranks to be named Minister Without Portfolio in November last year.Mr Weeks said: “I would like to see a Bermuda where its people are able to reach their full potential.“In doing so, as we venture into uncharted waters, we should embellish our creative spirit by putting our ideas into action so that they become a reality.”Yesterday's press conference saw Mr Weeks' surrounded by his family and friends who excitedly took photos as he made his introductory speech as Minister of Community Development. This included his wife Cindy-Lee, who is a teacher at Whitney Institute, and children Malik, Marcus and Ebone.The Premier said she had made the commitment to “reset the dial” at the start of the year and this included ongoing efforts to re-assess the workload of ministries.She said it could not be business as normal as concerns were growing about what was going on in our communities.Ms Cox added that Government was determined to focus on community clubs and groups who “are doing good and assist those who have lost their way.”Permanent secretary for the Ministry of Community Development will be Marva-Jean O'Brien, who formerly served as Assistant Cabinet Secretary for Policy.Ministers Mr Blakeney, Ms Butterfield, Wayne Perinchief and Zane DeSilva, as well as Government consultant Rolfe Commissiong, were at the press conference to show their support to Mr Weeks.But everyone was keeping tight-lipped about growing speculation that Mr Commissiong will be offered a role within the new ministry.Mr Weeks said Mr Commissiong had been instrumental in The Mincy Report and he expected to call upon his help and guidance in the future.While Ms Cox said Mr Weeks needed to “look at the Budget and see what fits” adding that Mr Commissiong's current contract expires in August.