Luke Rokovada, the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, has announced the appointment of Raijeli Taga as the new acting Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister. Taga takes over from Pita Wise, who resigned last week for personal reasons.
Rokovada confirmed this decision following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at the Government Buildings in Suva. He stated that Dr. Taga would be transitioning for two weeks with Paula Cirikiyasawa, the new Permanent Secretary for Lands, before officially starting her role at the Office of the Prime Minister.
During this interim period, Parmesh Chand, the Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, will act in the position for two weeks. Dr. Taga, a graduate of Dudley High School and the University of the South Pacific, holds a Master of Philosophy in Medical Science from the University of Queensland, obtained in 2010, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering in 2016. In 2023, she was awarded the International Alumnus of the Year by the University of Queensland for her contributions to Pacific Island development and sustainability, among other areas.
Dr. Taga has been with the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources since June 2020, accumulating 31 years of experience in the field. She hails from Beqa.
Filimoni Vosarogo, the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, praised Taga, stating that her achievements serve as an inspiring example for young girls in villages. He highlighted Taga’s success in obtaining a doctorate in a field traditionally dominated by men. Taga was instrumental in reforming the Fiji Employment Relations Act to remove Section 88, which had restricted the employment of women in underground mining. This bill was passed on International Women’s Day, marking a significant accomplishment for women’s rights, and she received the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.