The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) has confirmed that former inmate and artist Pauliasi Delaibatiki earned a total of $28,423.20 from artwork produced while associated with the Tagimaucia Art Gallery, and that after prior withdrawals the service will now pay him the outstanding balance of $20,905.55.
In a statement released on Saturday, the FCS said $7,517.65 of the earnings had already been withdrawn, leaving $20,905.55 to be disbursed. The organisation described the figure as the result of a "detailed reconciliation exercise" carried out by its finance team, which combined available gallery records with evidence supplied by Mr Delaibatiki. The review, the FCS said, had been under way at the time of his release from custody.
The reconciliation became necessary after officers identified gaps and inconsistencies in records maintained by previous gallery staff. The FCS said some files were incomplete or not properly documented, which required the finance team to check transactions and sales over several weeks to ensure accuracy and to reduce the risk of financial mismanagement.
Mr Delaibatiki had raised concerns on social media earlier this week about the state of his payments. The FCS acknowledged those concerns but said it would not allow social media narratives to determine an outcome outside established procedures. Officials emphasised that the reconciliation was intended to protect both the artist’s entitlement and the integrity of the gallery’s financial processes.
Allegations of inappropriate conduct by FCS officers in relation to the gallery’s operations were also raised. The corrections service said those claims were reviewed as part of the broader inquiry and found to be unsubstantiated. The statement reiterated a commitment to fair treatment of artists linked to the Tagimaucia Art Gallery while upholding financial rules and established practices.
The payment of the outstanding $20,905.55 is the immediate practical outcome of the reconciliation. The FCS did not provide a precise timeline for when the funds would be transferred but indicated the reconciled amount would be paid out following completion of administrative processes. The service also noted the reconciliation took the extra time needed to confirm sales and withdrawals accurately, rather than rushing the outcome.
This update closes a chapter of public uncertainty about Mr Delaibatiki’s earnings from art produced while in custody and highlights weaknesses the FCS has said it will address in gallery record-keeping. The corrections service’s statement frames the exercise as a necessary remedial measure to ensure transparency and to protect proceeds due to artists connected to its rehabilitation and creative programs.
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