Rokovada best person to chair PSC
The new Government could not have chosen a better person to chair the Public Service Commission than Luke Rokovada.
Apart from being a local, his name is synonymous with the public service where he served for 44 years. His career highlights included serving as permanent secretary in Commerce and Trade, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Youth and Sports and in Health.
Although he had no background in Health, the Government had so much confidence in him it kept him there for eight years before he was posted as the first resident Fiji High Commissioner to India from 2004 to 2008. He went into retirement and spent most of his time in community service. He has been contributing to the Tailevu Provincial Council from his base in Nakelo, in Tailevu south
At 76, his wealth of experience will benefit the PSC. He has been appointed to implement the policy of the new Government which wants the removal of contracts. That has been agreed by the PSC with a difference. The contracts will remain for permanent secretaries and those employed temporarily for projects. That makes sense because as chief executive officers the buck stops with them in the same way as CEOs in the private sector. Their leadership is critical in the setting and achievement of targets aligned to Government policies.
Mr Rokovada is no stranger to his line Minister, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. He served under him when Mr Rabuka was Prime Minister the first time.
Mr Rokovada and Mr Rabuka share the same beliefs and philosophies and we can expect changes to happen quickly in the civil service.