Permanent Secretary posts: 11 to be named
in February this year.
The Fiji Sun understands that all acting permanent secretaries had reapplied and have been shortlisted for the PS roles.
Some of them are:
■ Peter Wise – Acting Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister,
■ Atish Kumar – acting as Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations,
■ Atelaite Rokosuka – Acting Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry,
■ Mitieli Cama – Acting Permanent Secretary Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management and
■ Dr Josefa Koroivueta – Acting Permanent Secretary Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation. “We had so many great candidates that applied and I know it would not be an easy task trying to appoint the people for the position,” Mr Rokovada said.
The selection and recommendation to the Prime Minister for appointments of these new Permanent Secretaries followed an extensive open merit recruitment and selection process conducted by the Commission.
PS WAGE BILL
According to the Ministry of Civil Service annual report 2018 to 2019, the PSC was allocated a budget of $7.2 million for the same financial year to cater for salaries, allowances and other expenses for contracted Permanent secretaries. Personal emoluments alone for permanent secretaries totalled up to $3.8 million in 2019 compared to $4 million in 2018.
When asked if there would be a review of pay for permanent secretaries, Mr Rokovada said they would await the appointment of the Higher Salaries Commission who would handle this exercise for the PSC.