Inmate Pauliasi Delaibatiki’s painting about  Tropical Cyclone Winston damage was sold in Beijing for  $15,000.

This money will be donated to the Help the School Project.

Speaking to the Fiji Sun yesterday with the permission of the Commissioner of Corrections,  Francis Kean, Delaibatiki said he was happy that the sale of his painting would go to the Help the School Project.

He said he was part of the Corrections team that went for the clean-up after the cyclone in Tailevu and really felt for the victims.

Ioane Naivalurua the Fijian Ambassador to China and a former Corrections Commissioner had facilitated the sale.

Delaibatiki said it took him three weeks to complete the painting.

He said he was serving a life sentence and had spent six years in Naboro and this was his sixth year at the Suva Corrections Centre, Korovou.

Delaibatiki said a couple in Hawaii were offering accommodation for him and painting tools to continue his painting if released.

Mr Naivalurua said he was marketing the inmates’ paintings in China and had brought back the money they were sold for.

He thanked the inmates for their wonderful paintings and urged them to continue with their talent.

He said the first consignment of paintings was sent to China in 2015 of which 10 were sold at more than $10,000.

Four months later the same year he said another 10 paintings were shipped to China.

Mr Kean said the Suva Corrections Tagimoucia Art Gallery was started by Mr Naivalurua when he was Commissioner of Corrections.

He said inmates at the gallery would continue their painting under the guidance of their guardian angel, Jane Ricketts.

In August he said the Fiji Corrections Service would organise an art exhibition to showcase the inmate’s talents.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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