Minister Michael Weeks says charities need better regulation so people know where their money is going when they make donations on the streets.The Community Development Minister has vowed to crack down on the Island’s charities to “protect the public” who generously make charitable donations.Mr Weeks said tighter controls for charities would be introduced, adding that he had concerns about how “a handful” of organisations were operating.Bermuda currently has about 400 charities; many of them offer similar types of services such as mentoring and providing meals for the needy.There has also been a noticeable rise of gang-related charities set up in the last two years to try to address Bermuda’s growing gun crime problems.Mr Weeks, who is now in charge of charities, said: “We have a duty to protect the public when it comes to charities.“We are all approached on the street, but not everyone stops to see what bucket they are putting their money in.“Where does that dollar donation go? Does it all go to charity? How often can the same charity go out on the streets and solicit cash? It seems like some charities are out there almost every day.“We want to get to the bottom of how these charities are being run. We want to clean things up to make sure all charities are following the same rules and regulations.”Mr Weeks plans to tighten up the guidelines for setting up and operating charities, as well as introducing a clearer complaints procedure.He said: “Charities have always been a vehicle for helping the poor, those in need and those less fortunate than ourselves. Charities shouldn’t be set up for anything different to this.”With so many charities competing for cash on a small Island, Mr Weeks said he understood that some people could be suffering from ‘donation fatigue.’The downturn in the economy means that companies and individuals are cutting back and Government is giving smaller grants because of sweeping budget cuts. But Mr Weeks urged charities to get creative in their fundraising efforts and “tap into new resources.”He said: “I understand the positive role charities play in our community and I know they do so many good things. We want to work directly with charities to improve this.”Mr Weeks and Permanent Secretary Marva-Jean O’Brien spoke to The Royal Gazette yesterday a week after Premier Paula Cox set up the Ministry of Community Development.Mr Weeks described his early days in the new job as “fast and furious.”He said: “We’ve hit the ground running. We’ve been busy trying to get to meet and talk to all the heads of departments before forging a way forward. We have a good idea of the way we want to do things but first we want to talk to all those involved. It’s about working together, a team effort.”Mr Weeks said he wanted to put an end to speculation that the new Ministry was an added expense to Government. He said all his responsibilities came with their own funding from their former ministries. Mr Weeks said his Minister of Community Development salary remained the same as when he was Minister without Portfolio.Mr Weeks expects to be working closely with the Ministries of National Security, Education and Youth, Families and Sport saying he favoured “the cross-ministry approach.”Mr Weeks said the new Ministry would focus on preserving Bermuda’s culture while helping to move the Island into the 21st Century. The Bermuda National Library and Department of Community and Cultural Affairs fall under the umbrella of the Ministry of Community Development, moving from Minister Neletha Butterfield’s and Minister Glenn Blakeney’s portfolios respectively.Mr Weeks said the library was still “hugely popular” despite people’s reliance on the Internet for their information and entertainment. He said he would try to increase library users through initiatives such as the mobile book clinic for seniors and the artist in residence exhibitions.Mr Weeks also wants to fly the flag for live entertainment through the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.He said he appreciated the importance of community education and historical lectures, but suggested Bermuda should also be showcasing its local talent. He named Chewstick as a shining example of how people can freely express their talents.Mr Weeks is also busy setting up meetings with parish councils to help “re-energise the work they do.”He hopes parish councils will become “the first port of call” for people with community issues. He said people would find it easier to turn to parish council members rather than “going through the red tape” of talking to the police or MPs.Mr Weeks, who was a member of Pembroke Parish Council for two years, said: “Parish councils are right there in the communities. They know what the issues are and how they should be addressed. They are on the front line and need to be better utilised.“Bermuda is facing challenges like it’s never faced before. We need to address the issues as a community with a joined-up approach.”