Luke Rokovada, chairperson of the Public Service Commission, 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 voluntarily last week for personal reasons.
This confirmation followed a meeting between Rokovada and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva. Rokovada stated that Dr. Taga will transition with the new Permanent Secretary for Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, for two weeks before officially commencing her role at the Office of the Prime Minister.
During this interim period, Parmesh Chand, the Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, will serve in the acting position for two weeks. Dr. Taga has a notable academic background, having attended Dudley High School and the University of the South Pacific (USP). She earned her Master of Philosophy in Medical Science from the University of Queensland in Australia in 2010, followed by her Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering in 2016. In 2023, she was honored as the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year for her significant contributions to Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, environmental health, and work with Indigenous communities.
Dr. Taga has dedicated over 31 years to the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, where she became Permanent Secretary in June 2020. She hails from Beqa. Filimoni Vosarogo, the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, praised her accomplishments, noting that Taga serves as an inspiration for young girls in her village and highlighting her exceptional achievements in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Dr. Taga played a pivotal role in reforming the Fiji Employment Relations Act, successfully removing Section 88, which barred women from working in underground mines. This bill, which passed on International Women’s Day, marked a significant milestone for women’s rights, and she received the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.