The Public Service Commission (PSC) has accepted the resignation of the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Ritesh Dass, and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
Mr Dass plans to pursue a new career opportunity following his effective resignation on 1 October 2021.
During his two-year term with the Fijian Government, Mr Dass provided exceptional leadership through the challenging chapter of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry is well-positioned to continue its programme of reform to strengthen Fiji's agriculture sector through strategic support to the nation's farmers.
The PSC has appointed Dr Vinesh Kumar, the Head of Operations for the Ministry of Agriculture, to act as the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture.
Dr Vinesh Kumar brings 26 years of experience within the Ministry of Agriculture to his acting appointment. He currently serves as Head of Operations for the Ministry, where he has proved instrumental in implementing food security initiatives as well as enhancing extension services to drive growth in agriculture production and exports. He has led the largest team within the Ministry through the challenge of the pandemic and driven significant improvements in performance delivery.
The PSC thanks Mr Ritesh Dass for his service to the Fijian Government and congratulates Dr Vinesh Kumar for his acting appointment.