Luke Rokovada, chairperson of the Public Service Commission, has announced the appointment of Raijeli Taga as the acting Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister. Taga succeeds Pita Wise, who resigned voluntarily last week for personal reasons.
Rokovada confirmed the appointment following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Suva. He noted that Dr. Taga would spend two weeks transitioning with the new Permanent Secretary for Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, before officially starting her role at the Office of the Prime Minister.
During this two-week period, Parmesh Chand, the Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, will serve in the acting position.
Dr. Taga, an alumna of Dudley High School and the University of the South Pacific, 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. This year, she was honored as the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year for her significant contributions to Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, environmental health, and work with Indigenous communities.
Since June 2020, Dr. Taga has served as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, with a total of 31 years of experience in the ministry. She hails from Beqa.
Filimoni Vosarogo, the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, praised Taga for her achievements, highlighting her role as a role model for young girls in village communities. He emphasized that earning a doctorate is an exceptional accomplishment, especially given that she has succeeded in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Dr. Taga led significant reform of the Fiji Employment Relations Act, resulting in the removal of Section 88, which previously barred women from working in underground mines. The bill passed on International Women’s Day represents a significant milestone for women. In recognition of her efforts, she received the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.