I was appointed to a cabinet berth on 14 July 2005. Today, I complete three years on the job.
Much has changed in local politics and government since July 2005. In the process, I have made friends and lost some.
Abdulla Yameen, whom I knew from my time as secretary general of parliament, and during his days as Trade Minister and parliamentarian, was appointed as the Higher Education Minister on the day I joined cabinet. He is at least a decade senior to me in government and politics. He resigned from the cabinet post in early 2007.
He continues to be in parliament. Although we operate on different frequencies now, we continue to be warm in our personal relations. Whenever we meet in parliament, we always crack a joke or two.
Dr Hassan Saeed, who was Attorney General since November 2003 left the government in August 2007. Dr Saeed was the closest of my friends. He was the person who, in fact, persuaded me to join the cabinet and accept the portfolio. Since his departure from the government, neither of us has spoken to the other nor have we even come across each other.
Along with him left, an equally good friend and colleague Dr Mohamed Jameel who took up the Justice portfolio on the same day I was appointed to cabinet. Since he left government in August 2007, we have not spoken to each other or come across each other, except for a brief while, when we met near the parliament building, about a fortnight ago. It was difficult for me. I am sure it was difficult for him too. I saw that in his eyes. I am sure he would have seen that in mine too.
Dr Ahmed Shaheed who was made the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the same day as I was made the Minister of Information, left the government two weeks after the resignation of Dr Saeed and Dr Jameel. He too was a friend from his Foreign Affairs days and time as Chief Government Spokesperson. I have not seen him or spoken to him ever since his resignation.
I took part in a radio show with him about a month back. We were both connected to the presenter via telephone. We did not get the chance to meet in the studio or say hello to each other. It was awkward to be taking part in the same show and holding different positions, given the many interesting conversations we have had, and what we have gone through and fought for in the past as friends and colleagues.
I did not know Dr Mahmud Shougee before I joined the cabinet. He was previously the Education Minister. He was given the Tourism portfolio on the same day of my appointment to the cabinet. He resigned a few days back.
I have been in cabinet and cabinet committee discussions with him. I find him to be quite a diplomat, and a man with clear choice of words in both Dhivehi and English. Sometimes he is so diplomatic, I have asked him at times to 'decode' his comments to my language. His resignation is yet to be accepted.
Mr Qasim Ibrahim is another cabinet colleague and long time friend. He and I go back several years. I met him first as a student, when I was struggling to seek funding for my studies. As a lawyer, I have helped him in many transactions.
Having him in cabinet, I think, brought a sense of real authenticity to the otherwise very diplomatic maneuverings.
Qasim Ibrahim joined the cabinet a few weeks after I did. As everyone knows now, he has resigned a couple of days back. The acceptance of his resignation is awaited.
I think Qasim Ibrahim will have a very long life. As I ended the last paragraph, he called me. We were on the phone for nearly an hour having an excursion of all those issues which culminated in his resignation.
Despite our professional disagreements, he and I have always been good friends. There is no reason that we would not be good friends, even in the future.
All of these resignations have their own impact on the government, and of course, on me too, as a person, being part of that government. It is difficult to see friends go -.whatever the reason they put before the public for their departure. As colleagues, we know well the circumstances of and reasons behind the resignations.
But, I guess, the nation's caravan must roll on, and so must its institutions. None of us came to the cabinet for the other's sake. Each of us joined the government to serve the country as each of us thought proper. When one finds himself at odds with his vision or his conscience, the best for the country, and for him too, would be to resolve that conflict, by leaving the cabinet, and moving on.
The country was here even before each one of us came. It must remain on its course - unfettered, unaffected, unhindered - even after each one of us has gone. Perhaps - in more able hands than ours - to be nurtured, and cared for, even more responsibly and even more wholesomely that each of us had attempted.
Comments (20)
"As colleagues, we know well the circumstances of and reasons behind the resignations. "
I wonder if there is a secret agenda behind all these resignations. We all know the reason - fed up with how the current goverment runs. Economic irresponsbility at worst.
"Perhaps - in more able hands than ours - to be nurtured, and cared for, even more responsibly and even more wholesomely that each of us had attempted"
Will take years even at the best hands to salvage this country from economic ruins.
May Allah Bless our country and give the foresight to its people to elect the right people to govern this country. Amen!
Posted by issey | July 14, 2008 4:03 AM
Posted on July 14, 2008 04:03
I see you as a very good role model. Congratulations, and Good luck!
Posted by Me | July 14, 2008 5:25 AM
Posted on July 14, 2008 05:25
Dear nasheed
I Congragelate you to complete 3 year's,As a cabinet minister you have served trusted acceptable role in the government not like others, you have talk and fight for the gender eaquality and media resposibility human right as well.Frome the pulic the majority accept you and your service.in my opinion you can continue the political carrier futher more and more
thanks and many regards to you and your family
man of the sea
Posted by hameed | July 14, 2008 9:02 AM
Posted on July 14, 2008 09:02
Your writings are at best when you romanticise sentimental writings. The above post is such an example. I believe that you are a gifted writer who has the ability to romanticise sentimental writings. Having known you for quite sometime and having read many of yor articles, I think I can now say that you are a person with a sentimental mind possessing a romantic pen.
However, in your post, the third paragraph beginning from the bottom is neither sentimental nor romantic. I guess this is a deliberate departure from the rest and shows you do cautiously intertwine political pragmatism to reflect the current times.
You are therefore, the pragmatist, the sentimentalist as well as the romanticist. Here, I may not be right. But, what else can one say when law is your profession, journalism your passion and cabinet is your position?
In a constant process of yielding, wielding and churning you as a pragmatist and happens to be in any way, an engineer of some sort, you will certainly see cracked nuts, loosened bolts and split ball bearings which collectively help to raise any engine's noise level despite careful attendance of consultants, engineers, mechanics and their constant oiling process.
Highlighyting the same concept using an inter-planetary concept, I am of the view that the orbitory position in which your axis is tilted and positioned, you too can feel the gravity of the anxiety and excitement when there is a graviational pull of the whole 'solar' system. While this is happening, you also can see at a distance in the galaxy, shining stars as well as shooting stars. There are also those stars that are totally destroyed and parts of them in the process of becoming space dust while other big bits lining up as a disturbing asteroid belt but yet, shining. This is again due to constant reflection of the same sun's light on them. They will keep shining at varying level until the sun dies.
In the light of inter planetory movement, in the way, some planets are positioned close to one planet and yet shines less while others are positioned further from the same planet and shines bright, I too can see how natural it is to see close friends go further, remain as friends, other distant friends come close and become close friends while there is also at the same time another energetic process in which some friends are being made and unmade. As you said some friends are made and others are lost, but not for ever...rather for a point in time eh?.
By the way, many happy returns of the day.
As you had said, snake poison no longer works when venomous snakes bite one single person too often as by then, one is immune to snake venom. Certainly you have survived the poisonous snakes. Although this may be the reality, in these hard and toughned up times, I like to believe that it is an achievement to have completed three consecutive years as media minister. However, having said this, I also like to believe that no matter how immune is one to snake poison, there are also other types of poisons too, and to which one needs other antidotes.
Best Regards
PS: By the way.. Nicholas Sarkozy too would be celebrating today, perhaps feasting with yummy frog legs.
Posted by azak | July 14, 2008 9:11 AM
Posted on July 14, 2008 09:11
so are you next on the list?????
Posted by hasan | July 14, 2008 10:29 AM
Posted on July 14, 2008 10:29
Congrats. You've grown in stature and maturity over the last three years -- growing sidewards and sprinkling silver dust on your head.
Posted by .. | July 14, 2008 1:19 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 13:19
Nasheed, your former colleagues who left or are leaving the government are not leaving the country. The country will go on with them whether they are a part of the government or not. What part they will play and how they will serve the people is up to them to offer and the people to accept.
I think the government is not the whole of the country, it is a part of the country. What you have experienced and learnt through the opportunity that few will have will benefit the country even after you have left the government. Ofcuorse, the onous of educating yourself to serve the people better even after your part in government, is very much up to you.
We sincerely hope that you have learnt, as evident from the milestones under your specific watch. I am glad that you have been a part of the government in these turbulent times, and hope that your contribution will continue to benefit the people, even if not in the cabinet, as you have given a deadline for the lenght of your service to the country as a member of the cabinet.
The most important thing is that you have a communication channel open to those who have an interest to listen to you.
Posted by Shihab | July 14, 2008 2:30 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 14:30
Would you still have so much to write about after your promised departure from cabinet on 11 November this year? Or will you still operate this blog?
Posted by unaihs | July 14, 2008 2:57 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 14:57
Mr.Nasheedh as you said you are friend of 3 docs. i have nothing to say about prophesional realation. But you should keep intouch with them. As a persional relationship. Its different view in profesional. I hope you do.
Jazakallah Khaira
Posted by AXE | July 14, 2008 3:31 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 15:31
personal friendship shall be different from professional friendship..,
with in a years its 5 resignation,?? Isn't this a big concern, as each of these are costing us a lot, as the new Minister will do the things to his own plan... (This is what has happened in the past....)
In a time which the Countrys economy is in a critical situation, these are bad news.
Now all the PHd ministers gone.,,,, whats next????
5 ministers resignation in a years time indicates that the system in not in the right path..... get something done, as those in the boat should dot he rescue part...
Posted by ibu | July 14, 2008 3:50 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 15:50
What sayest, ditch the government and get back to two things closest to your heart -- women and law :)
tc
Posted by m | July 14, 2008 4:12 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 16:12
I think with the new resignations, you should add tourism and finance to your ministry's name.
I think it would be something like ministry of information and legal reform and tourism and finance...
Congrats minister, i think you have just moved up in the ladder.
Posted by soppe | July 14, 2008 6:38 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 18:38
Still it is the people in the Goverment can make a real change. Those outside would have a leverage only if they can rely on the public's goodwill or on the institutions. So keep going. Resignation is a foolish move and there are many examples to show that it does not work.
Tough times do not last but tough people do. As Winston Churchill says, if you are going through hell, the only way out is to keep going.
Good Luck
Posted by goodwill | July 14, 2008 6:54 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 18:54
Dear Nasheed,
First I would like to congratulate you on the occasion.
As we all have read, you have promised not to accept a cabinet post from 11th Nov this year. So I was wondering are you open to any other post? Like one of the many independent commissions or even the Supreme court?
Posted by Gafoor | July 14, 2008 10:27 PM
Posted on July 14, 2008 22:27
I have to agree with Shihab...it is good that you have been in government in these turbulent times. At the same time, it is good that your colleagues left the government. Although not without personal cost to all, the nation is at this juncture today as a result of these dynamics...the pressure was needed from within and outside. Insha Allah the nation is on the path to better times and greater things thanks to the efforts on all these fronts. It definitely has been a steep learning curve for most and the next stretch is bound to throw up more challenges...congratulations on pulling yourself up from fifty below rock bottom and persevering with your work. I hope at some point old friendships will be renewed and life will become more 'normal' for all of you. I remain in awe of your ability to balance so many things and yet find the time to maintain your blog!!
Posted by ... | July 15, 2008 12:40 AM
Posted on July 15, 2008 00:40
Dear Mr. Nasheed,
I still remember you said in one of your articles that you will stay in cabinet only until 11th November 2008. Let's wait and see how much you honour your words.
Posted by Farhath | July 15, 2008 3:15 AM
Posted on July 15, 2008 03:15
I dont believe that the ministers who left the government just because they believed that government were not interested in reform.
Dr.Hassan Saeed before leaving the government called MDP a terrorist group. Dr Shahid on public TV threatened MDP saying MDP's "janaaja". Dr Jameel is more like Hassan's Shadow. He is not allowed to give his own views on public. These people would not have done these things in the name of democracy and if they wanted to reform.
Gasim is more like a circus clown. He is moving to his third party now. Everybody believed in this guy, even the opposition, that he could deliver the mass projects and recover the budget deficit. His military style sacking of staff is a prime example of what we can expect from him if he gets ultimate job.
For me all Maldivians are all alike. You cant trust the government, the opposition and the religious groups in this country.
Nasheed do u have a solution for this?
Posted by Jameel | July 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Posted on July 15, 2008 12:00
Dear Nasheed
It is not only a plead of me but it is lot of people's urge that you should not depart the cabinet.
Keeps the reform process going on no matter what heaviness you have to muddle through with?
Facilitate the president for his reform process to accomplish. Allah knows best what people hearts encompass and what there strategy is. Besides, I think professional and personal should be the same as long as we respect each other.
Posted by Water Smith | July 15, 2008 2:27 PM
Posted on July 15, 2008 14:27
minister nasheed, r u going to be the running mate of maumoon? will u accept it ? its unbelivable... you must not try to make strong maumoon. if u accept it, it will be a failure of u.
Posted by asim | July 15, 2008 6:39 PM
Posted on July 15, 2008 18:39
"Farhath:
Dear Mr. Nasheed,
I still remember you said in one of your articles that you will stay in cabinet only until 11th November 2008. Let's wait and see how much you honour your words.
Posted by Farhath | July 15, 2008 3:15 AM"
Yes, I too agree with Farhath and would hope to see wht your decision would be on your words.
Posted by MY | July 18, 2008 1:46 PM
Posted on July 18, 2008 13:46