Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil has assured the nation of law and order, as the new Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa assumes office as the new head of the Government.

The Commissioner confirmed he is back in the country after undergoing surgery in New Zealand.

Like all Government agencies, he said the Ministry of Police Prisons and Correction Services will continue their work and in the case of the Police, they will continue to provide peace and security for the country.

It is what the Police Ministry is mandated to do, Fuiavailili said while welcoming the new Government under Fiame and the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.).

He pledged the full support of the Samoa Police Service to fulfill its mandate.

“Like any other government agency, we will continue to do what we've always been doing...maintaining peace and security of Samoa and fulfilling our legal mandate,” the Commissioner told the Samoa Observer.

“We welcome the new Government and we will provide them our full support.”

The police also look forward to working with the new Minister of Police Prisons and Correction Services, Faualo Harry Schuster.

“We look forward to working for our new Minister of Police Prisons and Correction Services, the Honourable Lefau Harry Schuster,” Fuaiavailili said.

He then thanked outgoing Minister of Customs and Revenue and Police Prisons and Correction Services, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt for his leadership and guidance.

“I must also acknowledge and thank our former minister, Honourable Tialavea Tionisio Hunt for his leadership and guidance provided to me and our ministry during his time as our minister,” said Fuaiavailili.

Asked about enforcing court orders, the Police Commissioner said the Samoa Police must and shall always respect and execute orders issued by the courts of law.

“The Samoa Police must and shall always respect and execute any and all Court Orders – this principle is consistent with regional and international law enforcement practices,” he said.

During Fuaiavailili’s absence, having to travel abroad for overseas medical treatment, Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti served as Acting Police Commissioner.

Earlier this month, Commissioner Fuiavailili: “I want to be part of this whole political dilemma, I want to be here as part of it and at the same time I can’t do my job if I’m not healthy. It's in my interest and the interest of the public.”

“We don’t have any influence from what politicians are doing or other players…at the end of all this we want to be seen as the organisation that is doing the right thing, not biased – and balanced,” he said.