The Ministry of Police, Prisons, and Correction Services staff brought Christmas cheer to the Home of the Elderly at Mapuifagalele on Wednesday, including their Christmas choir and food and monetary donations.

The Police officers visited the elderly home on Wednesday afternoon where they sang Christmas songs featured in their “13 Days of Christmas” performance this week. Some of the residents joined in the singing and dancing.

The Ministry donated $1000 to the home, and had also donated produce, and boxes of milk, noodles and sacks of rice.

The Deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti, told the Samoa Observer on Wednesday that the Christmas performance has been an annual tradition for the Samoa Police Services for some years. 

They particularly wanted to bring the choir to the Home of the Elderly at Mapuifagalele.

"It's just a token of our appreciation to all the moms and dads who are here, for their prayers throughout this year,” Papalii told the Samoa Observer.

“And we really wanted to bring the choir because this year is the 24th year of the 13 Days of Christmas, so as normal the Samoa Police opens the 13 Days of Christmas. 

The goods donated by the Ministry came from the farm at the Tanumalala prison, and with a lot of the produce being grown at the prison for the prisoner, they had decided to donate some to the elderly home.

"It's always [...] emotional for some of the officers because this is their first time coming here and seeing first hand how they're enjoying us doing something different,” she said.

“We always look forward to this time of the year, where we do a lot of community engagement activities, just to show the other side of Samoa Police, not just enforcing the law but showcasing that some of our employees [... have] got really good voices.”

Papalii also directed a Christmas message to the public.

"[I want] to remind the public of being safe. Safety is always important and we ask that no drinking and driving, normal advice we would like to give to the general public just to be aware so that everyone gets to enjoy Christmas this year," she said.

The Sister-in-Charge of the Home of the Elderly at Mapuifagalele, Sister Maria Frances Pale, told the Samoa Observer that they are grateful for the donation and all who serve on the police frontline.

"Because we know it's not an easy job," Sister Maria told the Samoa Observer.

"They are very generous, especially for Mapuifagalele in many ways. They always respond to us as soon as we call, so we are so grateful for their presence here because it really means a lot to the elderly."

Sister Maria was delighted to see the residents' response, including those who had stood up and danced as the Police Choir played. 

Sister Maria said that the only way they could give back to them is that they will ask the Lord to bless the Samoa Police Services so that they will be looked after and protected.

"We appreciate their presence here and they were here waiting for them. We are so grateful for the help from the department and not just the produce, the fruit of their plantations [...] but they made the sacrifice to give for Mapuifagalele. So we are so grateful.

"We wish them all a very Holy and a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year and a Healthy New Year."