Public Service Commission chairperson Luke Rokovada has announced the appointment of Raijeli Taga as the new acting Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister. Taga succeeds Pita Wise, who resigned last week for personal reasons.
Mr. Rokovada confirmed the appointment following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva. He mentioned that Dr. Taga would be transitioning with the new Permanent Secretary of Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, for a period of two weeks before assuming her role at the Office of the Prime Minister.
During the interim, Parmesh Chand, the Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, will act in the position for the next two weeks. Dr. Taga is a graduate of Dudley High School and the University of the South Pacific. She earned her Master of Philosophy in Medical Science from the University of Queensland in 2010 and later received her Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering in 2016.
In recognition of her contributions to Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, and work with Indigenous communities, Dr. Taga was named the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year in 2023. She has spent 31 years at the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, where she became the Permanent Secretary in June 2020.
From Beqa, Dr. Taga has been acknowledged by Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo, who lauded her accomplishments as a role model for young girls in the village. He emphasized that earning a doctorate in a traditionally male-dominated field speaks volumes about her dedication and success.
Dr. Taga played a pivotal role in reforming the Fiji Employment Relations Act, specifically the removal of Section 88, which restricted the employment of women in underground mines. This legislative change, which was passed on International Women’s Day, marked a significant triumph for women’s rights. In 2018, she was honored with the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ in the Public Sector.