Luke Rokovada, chairperson of the Public Service Commission, has announced the appointment of Raijeli Taga as the acting Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister. Taga succeeds Pita Wise, who resigned voluntarily last week for personal reasons.
Rokovada confirmed the news following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva. He noted that Dr. Taga is currently transitioning from her role with the new Permanent Secretary for Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, for two weeks before officially starting at the Office of the Prime Minister.
In the meantime, Parmesh Chand, the Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, is temporarily filling the position. Dr. Taga is a former student of Dudley High School and an alumnus of the University of the South Pacific. She earned her Master of Philosophy in Medical Science from the University of Queensland in 2010 and her Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering in 2016.
In 2023, Dr. Taga received recognition as the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year for her outstanding contributions to Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, environmental health, and work with Indigenous communities.
She began her role as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources in June 2020, boasting an impressive 31-year career within the Ministry. Hailing from Beqa, Dr. Taga has been praised by Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo, who highlighted her as an inspiring figure for young girls in villages, noting the significance of her achievements in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Dr. Taga played a pivotal role in amending the Fiji Employment Relations Act to repeal Section 88, which had prohibited women from working in underground mines. This legislative change, passed on International Women’s Day, marked a significant milestone for women’s rights, and she was honored with the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.