On the fourth day of this month, Police Sergeant Afutoto Evile Paulo Ekuini was taken from his family, and from the Ministry that was dear to him, after he drowned at sea while on duty along the coastline.
His spirit of service was acknowledged by the Government, with the Prime Minister, Lauaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo, attending the service together with the Ministry of Police, Prisons and Corrections. The service was held at the Catholic Church in the village of Moamoa.
It was a day of tears for the grieving family, especially his wife and their two children. One of their sons turned one year old that day, but the father of the family had been taken by death.
When the Commissioner of Police was given the opportunity to speak, he spoke of Evile’s service record.
“His service totals 11 years, 7 months and 10 days. He began as a Police Constable, and through faithful service he was promoted to the rank of Senior Constable 2 in 2021.
In 2023, he was promoted again and held the rank of Sergeant, which is the rank he held at the time of his death,” said Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga, Commissioner of Police.
Afutoto Evile began work at the Afega Police Station, then moved into general duties. He later worked in the traffic unit, moved into the Ministry’s communications area, and was responsible for specialist investigations, including specialist coastal investigations.
He attended a number of Police Ministry training courses overseas, gaining certificates that supported his promotions, and building the skills and capability required to monitor safety and security within the Ministry.
Government pallbearers carried his casket from the hospital to the church, and from the church to his home for the continuation of the funeral proceedings.
His elder, Saunimaa Ekueni Pasi, said his son was a person who brought families together and worked for a better future, which could be seen in his drive and progress into senior levels of police service.
His wife, Silia Iosefo, spoke of her grief, but said she finds comfort in their children.
The official funeral proceedings at his home in Moamoa were expected to conclude at around 12 noon today.
Auai le Malo i toe sauniga o le Leoleo Satini
O le aso fa o le masina nei na tuua ai e le Alii Leoleo Satini ia Afutoto Evile Paulo Ekuini le mafutaga ma lona aiga, aemaise o lana Matagaluega e pele ia te ia, ina ua malemo i le sami ao iai i galuega i le gataifale.
O lena loto tautua, na faafetaia e le Malo ina ua auai le afioga i le Palemia ia Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, o le Sui Palemia ia Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo, faatasi ma le Matagaluega o Leoleo Falepuipui ma le Ola Toe Fuataina i le sauniga na faia i le Malumalu Tapuai a le Ekalesia Katoliko i le afioaga o Moamoa.
O le aso o loimata maligi o le aiga faavauvau, aemaise i le toalua ma le fanau e toalua, lea faatoa atoa i le aso le tasi tausaga o le isi ona atalii, ae ua amia e le Atua le tama o le aiga.
Ina ua maua le avanoa o le afioga i le Komesina o Leoleo, na ia molimau ai i le soifuaga galue o Evile.
“Ua atoa le 11 tausaga, 7 masina ma le 10 aso o le tautua. Na amata mai o se alii leoleo, ma o lana tautua faamaoni na ala ai ona siitia mai i le alii leoleo i le tofiga Alii Leoleo Taai 2 i le tausaga 2021.
O le tausaga 2023, na toe siitia ai foi lona tulaga ma umia ai le tofiga Alii Leoleo Satini, lea ua maliu ai lava,” Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga – Komesina o Leoleo.
Na amata galue Afutoto Evile i le Ofisa o Leoleo i Afega, faasolo ane ai i auaunaga lautele, maua ma le avanoa e galue ai i le vaega o taavale afi, see atu i le itu tau fesootaiga a le Matagaluega, nafa ma suesuega faapitoa, atoa ma suesuega faapitoa i le gataifale.
E tele aoaoga a le Matagaluega o Leoleo na auai ai Afutoto i atunuu mamao, ma maua ai ona tusi pasi e mafai ai ona siitia lona tulaga, ma le tomai faapea agavaa i le mataituina o le saogalemu o le matagaluega.
Na tauamoina e Malu o le Malo lona pusa maliu mai le maota gasegase agai i le malumalu, mai le malumalu foi i lona aiga ma talimau ai.
Na saunoa lona tuaa ia Saunimaa Ekueni Pasi, o lona atalii o se tagata e faamaopopo aiga ma finau mo se lumanai manuia lea lava ua iloa i lona sogasogo i avanoa maualuluga i le galuega faaleoleo.
Na faamatalaina e lona toalua lona loto mafatia ia Silia Iosefo, ae peitai e mafanafana ona o nai ona alo.
Pe tusa o le tea o le itula 12 i le aoauli nei, ae faamaea loa sauniga aloaia o lona falelauasiga i lona aiga i Moamoa.
