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 noted that Dr. Taga is currently transitioning with the new Permanent Secretary for Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, for a duration of two weeks before assuming 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 role for two weeks. Dr. Taga, a Dudley High School graduate, holds a Master of Philosophy in Medical Science from the University of Queensland, Australia, obtained in 2010, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering, completed 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 collaboration with Indigenous communities.
Dr. Taga has been serving as the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources since June 2020, with a distinguished career spanning 31 years in the ministry. She hails from Beqa.
Earlier, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo praised Ms. Taga’s achievements. He remarked, “Ms. Taga is a beacon for young girls growing up in the village. Achieving a doctorate signifies exceptional success in her field, particularly as she has excelled in a historically male-dominated area.”
Notably, Taga played a significant role in reforming the Fiji Employment Relations Act, advocating for the removal of Section 88, which had prohibited women from working in underground mines. This legislative milestone was celebrated on International Women’s Day and marked a significant achievement for women’s rights. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.