Gazette today profiles newly-appointed Minister of Community Affairs the Hon.

Wayne Furbert, MP for Hamilton West.

Community is the first word that springs to mind when the name of the Hon.

Wayne Furbert comes up.

Over the past fortnight Mr. Furbert has enjoyed a meteoric rise to become Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs in the Premier's new Cabinet.

His rapid promotion confirms him as one of the United Bermuda Party's rising young stars, given that he was elected after standing for the first time and then leapfrogged many more experienced politicians into the Cabinet.

This shows two things. His election, he believes, was a result of his work in the Hamilton West community, particularly Crawl Hill.

His ministerial appointment is the result of the respect which his colleagues in the United Bermuda Party have for his hard work.

Mr. Furbert said: "I am a people's person. I love people. I will still insist on being known as Wayne to people in Crawl Hill. I do not want to be known as the Honorable or whatever.'' He has lived in Hamilton West since the age of six and has been involved in politics since the aged of 12 when he helped his father Mr. Calworth Furbert canvass for the party. The Minister is now 37.

There is a history of politicians in his family with his great-grandfather Mr.

W.B. Furbert being a Member of Colonial Parliament. Other relations were also MCP's.

Mr. Furbert said: "In my early years I was captivated by stories about my great-grandfather and by politics. At 14 I recognised that I wanted to get involved in politics and at that time I made the decision to support the UBP, because they had a better integration of black and white and their platform was economic stability and opportunity.

"I first spoke to my family and then my friends to see what they believed was good for the Country. Over the years my work has seen me meeting all the people in Crawl Hill. If you win the confidence of the Hill you win Hamilton West.'' In the same way Mr. Furbert admits that his running partner the Hon. Maxwell Burgess and Progressive Labour Party MPs Rev. Trevor Woolridge and Ms Renee Webb all grew up in the community. He said: "Trevor and I were in the same class at school.'' Mr. Furbert says he has a "homeboy'' image. He said: "I really wanted to work for the community because I know the people. Maxwell and I have worked hard to get things done without costing the Government a lot of money.

"People would say to me, even if we had not got what they wanted, that a least we tried.'' The Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs appointment was a surprise and Mr. Furbert realises he has been helped by teachers and friends through almost every stage of his life. But he said: "I tell young people to stop defeating themselves. If they reach for the sky they might get to the top of the tree.'' He attended Francis Patton School, the Technical Institute and the Sixth Form Centre before he earned his degrees in physics and maths at the University of Toledo.

He entered accountancy at the firm of Gray and Kempe, before moving to Heddington Insurance and he is now general manager of the law firm Richards, Francis and Francis, and a certified public accountant.

Mr. Furbert is a former member of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, the National Youth Council, Leaders of Tomorrow and is past chairman of the Road Safety Council.

He admits that much of his time is taken up with work and politics, because of his desire to help others.

He is deeply involved in the United Holy Church and the Minister is a member of the church's mass gospel choir, as well as some solo singing. He said: "I love singing and I do often wish I had a little more time for that.'' But Mr. Furbert is first a family man, a devoted husband to Ulene and father to eight-year-old twins Jasmine and J'von.

Mr. Furbert said: "I believe in strong family values. I believe you cannot begin to save your Country if you cannot save your own family.

"If I was given the choice between my family and politics, I would chose my family.'' PEOPLE'S PERSON -- Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs the Hon. Wayne Furbert.