International leaders thanked the government for a job well done, and many cabinet ministers must feel proud that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was dubbed a success.

The success of Samoa's so-called biggest event largely depended on the work done by the people on the ground: the various civil servants, police officers, auxiliary staff, nurses, teachers, caterers, drivers, hospitality staff, and our friends from the Pacific.

They are the ones who need to be thanked. Most of the leaders were away overseas before the event. It was hard yards put in by the people who have been forgotten. Many spent time away from family and loved ones.

Stories are emerging of 24-hour shifts, working without food (proper food), being subject to verbal abuse and other forms of exploitation. Even on Sunday, the people involved in motorcade duties were zipping from hotel venues to airports.

It is now expected that all government services will return to normal. Police officers will return to their duties and there will be ample numbers to tend to all calls and general policing. The big hospital will start its special clinics and there should be enough doctors and nurses to do the rounds.

The CHOGM Ward should be converted into a normal ward and people from the wretched Acute 8 be moved there. Teachers who were part of the logistical crew will return to work and on Tuesday, schools will start. This will be the final week for parents to pay the exam fees for the Year 10 and Year 12 students who will sit the national exams next month.

The courthouse will have a clean-up on Monday for things to return to normal from the next day. Many legal practitioners had a week off to get their files and papers in order. There should be no more excuses before the judges about paperwork not being in the files. The same goes for the prosecutors.

Few members of the business community are unhappy. The hype that was built before CHOGM about the boost in the economy was not felt by many local businesses. Instead, businesses felt that things were slowing down. The town was empty as many were busy working during CHOGM and many avoided the town altogether.

The market vendors, small shops, small hotel operators, bus and taxi operators and some restaurants were hit the hardest. The ones who benefitted were the bigger hotels, major food suppliers, large-scale caterers, rental companies and some Air BnB operators.

Many who missed out on business may see the money trickle to them this week or next week when a large cohort of public servants and auxiliary staff are paid for their long hours of work and they will go out and spend money.

With the curtains falling on CHOGM, there are huge expectations from the government. People now want the government to focus on the hospital and major infrastructure works delayed by CHOGM. People want to see some laws in the parliament to be passed starting with the Land and Titles Court Act and the amendments to the Constitution which would allow the courts to function better.

The people also want to see the promises of the anti-corruption corruption laws and the Information Act become real. The CHOGM is over, there are no more excuses. The people want to see the government do the work they were voted in to do so.