Three women’s rights organizations are questioning the appointment of Pita Wise as Permanent Secretary for Public Enterprises, saying unanswered questions remain over a sexual harassment allegation made during his previous tenure in government.

The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and DIVA for Equality Fiji say Wise’s return to a senior public service position raises concerns about accountability and transparency.

The groups say the allegation dates back to 2024, when Wise was Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.

At the time, FWRM and FWCC had also raised concerns over his nomination as Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan, arguing that the issue was not about denying Wise the presumption of innocence, but whether the allegation had been properly investigated and dealt with.

Wise later resigned as Permanent Secretary.

FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali says the organisations now want to know what happened to the complaint, whether an investigation was completed following Wise’s resignation, what its findings were and whether these were considered before his latest appointment.

She says the public should not be expected to accept another senior appointment while these questions remain unanswered.

FWRM Executive Director Nalini Singh has also questioned the transparency of the recruitment process, saying Permanent Secretaries hold significant authority within the public service.

Singh says the Public Service Commission and Government should clarify how the appointment was made, what criteria were used and whether an open recruitment process was undertaken.

DIVA for Equality Co-Founder Noelene Nabulivou says allowing someone who has been the subject of a sexual harassment allegation to return to a senior government position without a clear public account of what happened to the complaint risks undermining efforts to address violence and harassment against women.

The three organisations are calling on the Public Service Commission and Government to explain the status and outcome of the complaint and demonstrate that Fiji’s commitment to addressing workplace violence and harassment is being put into practice.

Fiji has ratified the International Labour Organization Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment, which recognises the right to a world of work free from violence and harassment.