When an officer of the law is slain in the line of duty, it is considered one of the worst crimes committed in a democracy. It is the main reason why government leaders of advanced democracies like Australia and New Zealand act swiftly to condemn such coward act publicly when it happens.

At the heart of any democracy, is the concept of sanctity of the law. It’s the mainstay of keeping order in a democracy. Without the respect for the rule of law, democracies could easily slip into political instability and anarchy.

In a parliamentary democracy, laws are passed by members of parliament who are the representatives of the citizens of the democracy. Any law of parliament therefore has the consent of the citizens of the democracy and the confidence in such law to protect them from any form of harm.

Officers of the law as in the case of police officers are mandated to enforce the law to maintain order in the democracy. They carry the burden of ensuring that the will and trust of citizens of the democracy to keep them safe under the law are carried out competently.

So when an officer of the law is slain while performing his or her duty to enforce the law in order to serve the interest of citizens of the democracy, it is considered a vicious attack on the rule of law and democracy.

The pusillanimous act of Pokati Tuu which resulted in the death of the late Sergeant Perite in the afternoon of Monday 22nd July 2024 while performing his duty to enforce the law, is an assault to the highest order on the rule of law and the people of this country.

The last time a police officer was slain in the line of duty in this country was in the early 1980s. And guess what, the perpetrator was also from a neighboring village in the same district.

A number of issues have unfolded following this dreadful event. One in particular concerns the silence from the leaders of our government and outside government in condemning such heinous act publicly. The Leader of the Opposition and his Deputy are in the mute mode and so as the Member of Parliament for Fasito’o Uta.

Another matter concerns the safety of Kings, Queens, Heads of States, Prime Ministers and leaders of the Commonwealth Countries who will descend on Samoa in 13 weeks from now to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Just how safe this country is at the moment? For the Commissioner of Police and his team, perhaps there is a message from the untimely death of the late Sergeant Perite. It’s a reminder not take the internal threat to the CHOGM lightly. There are lunatics like Pokati out there who may seize the opportunity to spoil the fun. And with the widespread of meth, the threat is real.

The Security Committee of CHOGM should lift their gameplan by now. It’s time to work with village councils of villages along the Apia-Faleolo stretch and to make the public aware of their role to ensure the visitors are safe. One of the approaches suggested is to operate on the assumption that there is a genuine threat out there. To work on the assumption that Samoa is a safe place breeds complacency and kills innovative thinking.

Fasito’o Uta’s village council decision to perform the ifoga to the late Sergeant Perite’s family and village in Savai’i and a televised public apology to the country is applauded. It reflects good governance and importantly, it shows the world, Samoa is still the safe paradise.

The Commissioner of Police public declaration to revisit their process and approach to avoid repeating such incident in the future is a good start. It will be the Commissioner’s contribution to be recognized in the years to come. But importantly, it will be a reminder of the great service the late Sergeant Perite has done for the force.

The Commissioner in his review of the process should also look at the issue of life insurance for every officer in the force. Samoa is no longer the safe place as it used to be three decades ago. Hard drugs are now emerging as the main catalyst for criminal behaviour.

I do not know how much financial compensation the late Sergeant’s widow and children will receive from the government. But I assume it is not much. A life insurance would make a lot of difference for the grieving widow and her six children.

When I was told that the late Sergeant Perite hailed from the village of Faletagaloa Safune, I immediately recalled one of the old adages: “Ua mai vai o le Tagaloa talu oe Taulauniu ma Safune”.  With the unfortunate incident, perhaps its safe to say: Ua mai vai o le Tagaloa talu oe Fasito’o ma le Falefitu. The decision to perform the ifoga is a welcoming act to calm things down between the two villages and the rest of the country.

Prayers and thoughts are with the late Sergeant’s widow and children during these difficult moments.