The Island’s parish councils are to be given a complete overhaul to bring the perceived ‘tea-sipping senior groups’ into the 21st Century.Community Development Minister Michael Weeks said his priority of the new Ministry was to step up the role of parish councils across Bermuda.Mr Weeks wants to encourage more young people to get involved in a bid to boost the strength of parish councils.The Minister says parish councils are “under-utilised assets” as they should be playing an active role in fighting crime and bringing communities together.Mr Weeks said parish councils were “not always perceived in the best of lights” as many wrongly pictured older people sitting around at meetings doing little more than drinking tea.But he said he wanted to change that mindset as parish council could be “real gems” if members worked alongside police officers and MPs.Mr Weeks said: “My immediate plan is to work with different parish councils to see how we can re-energise them and bring them into the 21st Century.“Many people don’t even know who their parish council members are, it shouldn’t be like that.“It’s my intent to improve their reputation by carrying out a review of their work and making them progressive and dynamic.”Mr Weeks believes concerned members of the public should be going directly to parish council members to discuss issues such as stolen cars, break-ins and CCTV. He said parish councils should also be instrumental in setting up Neighbourhood Watch groups.He said his first step would be to attend parish council meetings “to determine how to move forward collaboratively.”Mr Weeks said: “Parish councils have a crucial role to play in improving our country at a grassroots level.“They are a great vehicle for change, we have to use them better as they are currently under-utilised.”Premier Paula Cox named Mr Weeks the Minister of Community Development at a press conference at Cabinet on Thursday. The PLP Pembroke East Central MP was formerly Minister without Portfolio.Mr Weeks said the new Ministry was “right up his alley” as it was a continuation of several projects he had already started to work on. He said the two biggest problems facing the community were crime and unemployment.Mr Weeks will work through the recommendations of The Mincy Report on young black males. He also aims to revitalise the National Youth Council and work closely with charities, community groups and sports clubs.The Bermuda National Library and Department of Community and Cultural Affairs are also Mr Weeks’ responsibility.Mr Weeks gave his first Ministerial Statement as Minister of Community Development in the House of Assembly yesterday saying he was “still marvelling at the difference a week can make.”Mr Weeks said he would not shy away from the challenge of his new Ministry, as he was committed to turning “ideas into action.”He said: “It is time to get out of the boardroom. It is time for us to connect with those whom we serve.“It is time for us to arrive at solutions from the ground up by staying close to those communities which, while challenged in so many ways, find the resiliency to continue to move forward.”Fellow politicians from both sides of the House then fired questions at the new Minister of Community Development as they joked it was “Minister Weeks’ day.”There was no let up for Mr Weeks as he fielded repeated questions from MPs. OBA MP Grant Gibbons quizzed him on the new Ministry’s budget and how many Mincy Report recommendations had been implemented.Mr Weeks replied that he would provide the House with a detailed report as soon as he could.This caused PLP hecklers to shout: “You’re trying to trip up the Minister, it’s only his second day into it,” but the opposition parties refused to let up.Next up was United Bermuda Party Kim Swan who questioned whether the opposition would be able to make recommendations for Youth Council and Parish Council membership.OBA MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin asked about the financial reports of parish councils and OBA MP Donte Hunt questioned whether the ministry’s permanent secretary would be an additional cost.MPs were so keen to put Mr Weeks on the spot that at one point Speaker Stanley Lowe had to say: “We can’t have everyone on their feet asking questions at the same time.”Then PLP backbencher Dale Butler, who used to be Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, also joined in.He called Mr Weeks, who was sitting next to him, a “very dedicated, energetic and vibrant Minister” then proceeded to quiz him on why his Ministry included charities and what he was going to do to tackle youth violence.Mr Butler then commended his colleague saying: “He’s only just got the job, but he’s answering every question, he’s on the ball.”When MPs finally turned their attention to another Ministerial speech, a relieved Mr Weeks sat back in his seat and said “phew” to his PLP colleagues.