Luke Rokovada, chairperson of the Public Service Commission, has announced the appointment of Raijeli Taga as the new acting Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister. She succeeds Pita Wise, who resigned last week due to personal reasons.
Rokovada confirmed the appointment following a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva. He noted that Dr. Taga would be transitioning with new Permanent Secretary for Lands, Paula Cirikiyasawa, for two weeks before taking her position at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Parmesh Chand, the Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, is currently acting in the role for the interim period.
Dr. Taga, a graduate 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. In 2023, she was honored as the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year for her outstanding contributions to Pacific Island development and gender equality.
Dr. Taga became the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources in June 2020, bringing 31 years of experience within the ministry. Her roots are in Beqa.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo, praised Dr. Taga for her accomplishments, emphasizing that her achievements serve as an inspiration to young girls in villages, particularly in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Dr. Taga played a significant role in reforming the Fiji Employment Relations Act to remove a clause that previously banned women from working in underground mines. This bill, which passed on International Women’s Day, marked a significant milestone for women in the workforce. Additionally, she was recognized with the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.