New Works and Engineering Minister Ashfield DeVent is gearing up to tackle the Island?s affordable housing problem as a first order of business.

Mr. DeVent said his appointment as Works and Housing Minister was finalised on Wednesday night, but meetings have already been set up with the chairman of the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

?One of the major things I?d like to see is a clear assessment ? if it has not already been done ? of the number of vacant premises in the country at the moment, and then to see what can be done to ensure that every one that is vacant is occupied.?

He said some of his many ideas for housing may not be feasible. ?But I am going to entertain all options.?

Mr. DeVent revealed that he had already received a number of phone calls about affordable housing from people who had heard that he may be the new Minister in charge.

Asked if he saw being at the helm of such a large Ministry a daunting task, he said: ?My whole political career ? from the very beginning ? has been daunting. Everything you do is new. I can remember the first time I came here to be sworn in as a Minister, my knees were shaking... but I?m up to the task and have faith in our civil servants and I?m looking forward to working with them and I also have the wealth of great experience from my colleagues, the former Minister Lister and the Premier. I?m not in bad company.? Mr. DeVent represents Pembroke South East (District 21) in the House of Assembly. He first entered parliament when he won the 2002 Pembroke East Central by-election to replace the late David Allen.