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 last week for personal reasons.
Rokovada confirmed the appointment following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva. He stated, “Dr Taga is transitioning with new PS Lands Paula Cirikiyasawa for two weeks, and then she will begin her role at the Office of the Prime Minister.”
During this interim period, Parmesh Chand, the PS for Civil Service, will serve in the acting position for two weeks.
Dr. Taga is an alumna of 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 2010 and was awarded her Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering in 2016. In 2023, she was named the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year for her contributions to Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, and environmental health.
Taga was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources in June 2020 and has served the Ministry for 31 years. She hails from Beqa.
Filimoni Vosarogo, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, praised Taga’s achievements, emphasizing her role as an inspiration for young girls. He noted that her doctorate is a significant accomplishment in a traditionally male-dominated field. Taga played a crucial role in reforming the Fiji Employment Relations Act to eliminate Section 88, which barred women from underground mining jobs. This legislation was passed on International Women’s Day and marked a significant milestone for women, earning Taga the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.