Police officers take time to view paintings done by inmates at the Tagimoucia Gallery in Suva.

Senior Police officers undertaking an Inspectors' Leadership Development course yesterday had the opportunity to view the artwork of inmates displayed at the Suva Corrections Centre’s Tagimoucia Gallerys.

Officer- in-charge Sentence Planning, Acting Principal Corrections officer Onisimo Raboiliku and Education Liaison officer PPO Savenaca Baleiwai were also part of the four-week course.

During their visit yesterday, the officers were briefed by Officer-in-charge of the Suva Corrections Centre Viliame Bulewa about the work inmates involve themselves in during their period of incarceration.

“What you are witnessing in this gallery is the handiwork of those who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law,” Bulewa explained.

“This is part of the efforts of the Fiji Corrections Service to rehabilitate those under our care and to ensure that they not only sustain themselves and their families after release, but that they become useful members of society,” Bulewa said.

The participants also met with inmates currently doing a mosaic tiling workshop outside the gallery and were amazed at the talent shown.

The course, which was conducted at the Fiji Police Academy in Nasova was a pilot programme which focused on various styles of leadership.

Among issues learnt were the characteristics of a good leader, how to mentor in a workplace, work ethics and management.

The officers graduate today. 

www.corrections.org.fj