Dr. Raijeli Taga has been appointed as the Acting Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister. This announcement was made by Luke Rokovada, the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission. Dr. Taga, who is currently the outgoing Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, is in the process of handing over her responsibilities to Paula Cirikiyasawa, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary for Lands. Parmesh Chand, the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, is temporarily serving as the acting Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister.
Rokovada indicated that Dr. Taga is expected to officially take on her new acting position in two weeks. This change follows the recent resignation of Pita Wise, who stepped down from his role, citing personal reasons. The Prime Minister has previously stated that he received a complaint regarding Wise, which he forwarded to the Ministry of Civil Service. He mentioned that it is up to the complainant to decide whether to take the issue to the Police, while he was only responsible for referring it to the Ministry.
In response to inquiries about why the Public Service Commission is not referring Wise to the Police, Rokovada reiterated that it is solely the complainant’s decision. “It is for the complainant. It is for the complainant and it is her personal decision,” Rokovada stated.