Luke Rokovada, the 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 takes over from Pita Wise, who stepped down last week for personal reasons.
Rokovada confirmed the appointment following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva. He noted that Dr. Taga would spend the next two weeks transitioning with the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, before assuming her role at the Office of the Prime Minister.
In the interim, Parmesh Chand, the Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, will serve in the position for two weeks.
Dr. Taga, a former Dudley High School student, is an alumna of the University of the South Pacific and holds a Master of Philosophy in Medical Science from the University of Queensland, Australia, earned in 2010, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering obtained in 2016.
In 2023, she was honored as the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year for her outstanding contributions to Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, environmental health, and her efforts with Indigenous communities.
Dr. Taga has been with the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources since June 2020 and has a total of 31 years of service in the Ministry. She hails from Beqa.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo, praised Dr. Taga for her achievements, highlighting her role as an inspiration for young girls in villages. He noted that earning a doctorate in a traditionally male-dominated field is a significant accomplishment.
Dr. Taga was instrumental in reforming the Fiji Employment Relations Act to eliminate Section 88, which previously barred women from working in underground mines. The bill was passed on International Women’s Day, marking a significant milestone for women’s rights in the workforce. For her contributions, she was awarded the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ in the Public Sector in 2018.