Taga Appointed Acting PS to PM’s Office
Ms Taga replaces Pita Wise who voluntarily resigned citing ‘personal reasons.
Tuesday 01 October 2024 | 07:56
The newly appointed acting Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister, Raijieli Taga.
Public Service Commission chairperson Luke Rokovada has confirmed the appointment of Raijeli Taga as the new acting Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister.
She replaces Pita Wise who voluntarily resigned last week citing “personal reasons.”
Mr Rokovada made the confirmation after a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Government Buildings in Suva yesterday.
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“Dr Taga is at the moment in transition with new PS Lands Paula Cirikiyasawa from today (yesterday) for two weeks,” Mr Rokovada said.
“After that she would come here and start at the Office of the Prime Minister,” he said.
Mr Rokovada said the PS for Civil Service, Parmesh Chand is acting on the position for two weeks.
Dr Taga, a former student of Dudley High School, is also an alumni of the University of the South Pacific (USP).
She obtained her Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) from the University of Queensland, Australia in 2010 and later her Doctor of Philosophy (Mining Engineering) in 2016.
In 2023, Dr Taga was the University of Queensland International Alumnus of the Year.
The recognition is given to an alumni for his or her exceptional efforts in Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, environmental health and work with Indigenous communities.
She became Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources in June, 2020 and has dedicated 31 years at the Ministry.
She is from Beqa.
In an earlier statement, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo commended Ms Taga on her role.
“Ms Taga is a beacon for young girls growing up in the village. To gain a doctorate means you have done exceptionally well in your field of study and work and for her to make it, is special because she works in what was traditionally a male dominated field,” Mr Vosarogo said.
Ms Taga led the reform of the Fiji Employment Relations Act to remove Section 88, which prohibited the employment of women in underground mines.
The bill passed on International Women’s Day was a milestone achievement for women. She was subsequently awarded the Women in Business ‘Executive Woman of the Year Award’ for the Public Sector in 2018.
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