Robert Rex

Sir Robert Richmond Rex, KBE, CMG, (25 January 1909 – 12 December 1992) was Premier of the Pacific island state of Niue from its establishment as a self-governing territory 19 October 1974 until his death in 1992.^[1] Upon his death in office, he was succeeded by Mititaiagimene Young Vivian, until General Elections the following year resulted in the election of Frank Fakaotimanava Lui into office. Having served 18 years in office, he is Niue's longest serving Premier and most probably the Pacific's longest serving head of a Government. Sir Robert became the first Niuean to receive knighthood in 1984.

Although he was opposed to party politics on Niue, he was supported by the Niue People's Action Party after its formation in 1987. During his almost two decades in office, Sir Robert held virtually all Government ministerial portfolios from time to time. His Cabinet of Ministers included prominent Niuean figures such as Dr. Enetama Lipitoa, Mititaiagimene Young Vivian & Frank Fakaotimanava Lui, the latter two both went on to become respectable Premiers of Niue.

He is the great uncle of the rugby player Frank Bunce.^[2]

Sir Robert was born to parents Leslie Lucas R Rex, a European trader on Niue, and Fisimonomono Tufaina of Avatele Village in the south of Niue. He later settled down in Alofi, the capital of Niue, with his wife of that village, Lady Tuagatagaloa, Lady Rex QSM (1918–2004).

References

1. ^ Niue, country profile, Commonwealth Secretariat. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
2. ^ South Pacific and Micronesia. Lonely Planet. 2006. p. 358. ISBN 1741043042.