Maldives cabinet celebrates 80th anniversary

The Maldivian cabinet is marking its 80th anniversary today.

A cabinet was formed for the first time in the Maldives on the 22nd of December 1932. When it was established for the first time in the history of the country, the cabinet comprised of 12 ministries including the office of the Prime Minister.

The first ministries were Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Public Endowments, and Ministry of Agriculture.

The first ministers of the Maldivian cabinet were Mohammed Fareed Didi, Minister of Defence in addition to being the Prime Minister, Hassan Fareed Didi, Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kamil Didi, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Education, Eggamuge Ibrahim Ali Didi, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Health, Galolhuge Muhammad Didi, Minister of Agriculture, Hussain Salahuddin, Minister of Justice, and Muhammad Amin Didi, Minister of Trade.

Muhammed Amin Didi, who was the Minister of Trade in the first cabinet, has hitherto being the youngest minister in the history of the country. He was only 22 years when he was invited to hold the cabinet position. He also held the most number of ministerial positions simultaneously, as in 1952, he was the Prime Minister, the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Public Order, and Minister of Health.

Nine dignitaries have sat in the cabinet as its Presidents. They are Muhammad Farid Didi as Prime Minister when the cabinet was formed for the first time, Hassan Farid Didi while he was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muhammad Amin as Prime Minister, Ibrahim Faamuladheyri Kilegefaanu as Prime Minister, Ibrahim Nasir as Prime Minister and later as President, Ahmed Zaki as Prime Minister, Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom as President, Mahomet Nasheed as President, and Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan Manik as President.

The first female cabinet member was Mu’mina Haleem, who was appointed to the Cabinet on 6 Januarh 1977.