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 resigned last week for personal reasons.
Rokovada confirmed this decision following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva. He noted that Dr. Taga will be transitioning with the new PS Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, for two weeks before assuming her role at the Office of the Prime Minister.
During this transition period, the PS for Civil Service, Parmesh Chand, will serve in the acting position temporarily.
Dr. Taga, an alumna of Dudley High School and the University of the South Pacific, obtained a Master of Philosophy in Medical Science from the University of Queensland in Australia in 2010, and later completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering in 2016. She was named the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year in 2023 for her significant contributions to Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, environmental health, and work with Indigenous communities.
Having dedicated 31 years to the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, Dr. Taga became the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry in June 2020 and hails from Beqa.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo praised Taga’s achievements, stating that she serves as an inspiration for young girls in her village. Taga’s academic success in a traditionally male-dominated field is particularly notable.
Additionally, she played a key role in reforming the Fiji Employment Relations Act by removing Section 88, which restricted the employment of women in underground mines. This legislation, which passed on International Women’s Day, marked a significant milestone for women’s rights, and she was awarded the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.