British Royal Guard Discuss Security with Samoa Police

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 10 AUGUST 2023: Members of the British Royal Guard have had talks with Samoa police over security issues for the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) hosted in Samoa in October 2024.

It is the first time the high profile meeting will be held in a Small Island State in the Pacific and will be His Majesty King Charles 111 first official duty as the Head of the Commonwealth since his coronation early this year.

Priority for the conference is security hence the visit by the British family security team last week.

“We discussed matters of security and one of the issues raised was whether the police would be armed during the conference,” said Auapaau.

Samoa police are never armed unless there are special circumstances such as raids then they apply for permission from the Government for police to be armed.

He said the level of threats in such big conferences anywhere in the world is always high and the host countries have their hands full and should be on the alert at all times.

“CHOGM is no different especially when all heads of Government are attending,” the Commissioner said.

Samoa’s preparations for the conference started last year and Auapaau is satisfied with the response from the regional and international partners and the support offered for security during the conference.

Maritime heads to meet in Samoa
As part of CHOGM preparations and upskilling of maritime staff, the heads of the Maritime Forces in the Pacific will have a two day meeting in Samoa next week.

The Chief of the Australian and New Zealand Navies will also be part of the meeting where the Director General of the Pacific Forum Fisheries Agencies (FFA), Manu Tupou Roosen will deliver the keynote speech.

Some of the issues on the agenda include border security and illegal fishing.