They said the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to character and personal conduct and sadly here in Samoa we see this playing out time and again.

Last night the Ministry of Police, Prisons, and Corrections Services released a statement confirming a police raid that resulted in the arrest of a former Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (SFESA) worker and his son for drug possession.

Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed when contacted by the Samoa Observer on Monday night that the 44-year-old father is currently remanded in custody.

He was found to be in possession of marijuana, methamphetamine (meth), and marijuana seeds. The raid conducted by the Faleata Outpost discovered a plastic bag containing meth, marijuana leaves, marijuana seeds, and electronic devices at the suspects’ residence. Both the father and the son will appear in Court on 17 April 2023 for mention.

While both the father and the son remain innocent until proven guilty by the Court, we are moved by this case, as it points to a general breakdown in moral conduct and responsibility within the family.

This could indeed be a case of the apple not falling far from the tree – in that a young prospective youth with a bright future ahead of him getting entangled in the misdeeds of his father. But why should the apple fall not far from the tree when the fruit of the tree could blossom and become a blessing of its own to the community?

It is a tragedy of modern-day Samoa to see the next generation of leaders idling away with no sense of purpose and throwing away opportunities to become change agents in their communities. Or were they ever given the opportunity to fulfill their potential as the next generation of Samoan leaders? 

We are gobsmacked by the fact that the 44-year-old father previously worked for the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority, which prides itself on saving lives and working for the benefit of the community.

Have a look at the mission and values of the City of New York’s Fire Department, one of the largest and oldest in the world. Right at the top is “service”, followed by “bravery”, “safety” and “honour”. There are three more but for now let’s take a look at “honour” and what it means for Samoa’s version of the New York Fire Department.

“The enormous commitment necessary to perform the Department's tasks requires excellence of character. We inspire each other through pride in our unit, which is a belief that every action reflects on all the members of the unit, both past and present.”

That’s right – every firefighter is expected to wear these mission statements and values with pride – both current and former officers irrespective of whether you are active or not.

There is no doubt that the top brass at the SFESA would be disappointed to read of their former employee getting entangled with the law and will follow the case with interest.

But after last Friday’s graduation of a batch of 33 new firefighters, we must say there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for the authority, in its strive to boost its capacity while also enlisting new officers who can make a difference.

We are comforted by the entry of Fanolua Umutaua Leapai of Malie and Siumu, who earned top honors when she graduated last Friday as a firefighter.

She is living her dream, as she indicated in her interview with the Samoa Observer on Monday, saying she might be a girl “but I got a big heart”.

"I'm just a girl, but I got a big heart. Ten weeks of training has been tough, but never did I think of quitting because I am the person who loves challenges and I had to challenge myself, that I can do what men can do", Fanolua said. 

Congratulations Fanolua for being the top recruit in your class of 2023 – by achieving the highest overall combined score in tests that include a ladder, hose, and academic assessments – you’ve indeed proven to the nation that you are more than capable to take on the job.

We do not doubt Fanolua’s ability to excel in this new role and we pray that her success on the job will lead to more Samoan girls and women putting their hands up and taking on the challenges as we all strive to develop this nation.