Public Service Commission chairperson Luke Rokovada has announced 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 made the announcement following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva. He stated, “Dr Taga is currently transitioning with the new PS for Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, for a two-week period. After that, she will take her position at the Office of the Prime Minister.”
During this interim period, Parmesh Chand, the PS for Civil Service, will fill the role. Dr. Taga, who hails from Beqa, is a graduate of Dudley High School and the University of the South Pacific. She earned a Master of Philosophy in Medical Science from the University of Queensland in 2010 and later completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering in 2016.
In 2023, Dr. Taga was recognized as the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year for her significant contributions to Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, and work with Indigenous communities.
Since June 2020, she has been the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, having served a total of 31 years at the Ministry.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo praised Dr. Taga for her achievements, stating she serves as an inspiration for young girls in rural areas, specifically noting her accomplishments in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Dr. Taga was instrumental in the reform of the Fiji Employment Relations Act, which eliminated provisions barring women from working in underground mines. The bill’s passage on International Women’s Day marked a significant victory for women’s rights. She was honored with the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.