George Tuisawau

Ratu George Cokanauto Tuisawau OBE (18 August 1901 – 14 September 1961) was a Fijian chief and politician. He was Roko Tui of Rewa from 1936 until 1961,[1] and spent two decades as a member of the Legislative Council.

George Tuisawau
Roko Tui of Rewa
In office
1936–1961
Preceded byJoni Mataitini
Succeeded byLala Mara
Nominated Member of the Legislative Council
In office
1937 –  
Member of the Executive Council
In office
1946, 1948, 1953
Personal details
Born18 August 1901
Rewa, Fiji
Died14 September 1961 (age 60)
Suva, Fiji

Biography

Tuisawau was on 18 August 1901 in Rewa to Lutunauga Bativuaka Tuisawau and Adi Teimumu Vuikaba.[2] He was educated at the Queen Victoria School.[3] In 1921 he started working as a clerk and interpreter, before being moving to Levuka in 1925.[3] In 1926 he married Asenaca, with whom he had two daughters,[3] He later married Flora Black, with whom he had a son, and Miliakere Lewavaro, with whom he had another daughter.[2] In 1928 he moved to Ba, and later in the year started working for the Secretariat for Fijian Affairs.[3]

Tuisawau was appointed Roko Tui of Rewa in 1936, succeeding Joni Mataitini, who had died two years previously.[4] He also became Roko Tui Dreketi, succeeding his father.[2] In 1936 he was nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs as a potential member of the Legislative Council,[5] and was selected by the Governor to join the Council,[6] going on to spend two decades in the body.[7]

During World War II, he was Commander of the Fiji Labour Corps, serving in the Solomon Islands.[8] He also served in the Executive Council during 1946, 1948 and 1953.[9][10][11] He was made an OBE in the 1951 New Year Honours.[8]

Tuisawau died on 14 September 1961 at the age of 60.[12][7] His daughter Lala succeeded him as Roko Tui of Rewa.[2]

References
  1. Jonathan Fraenkel & Stewart Firth (2007) From Election to Coup in Fiji: The 2006 Campaign and Its Aftermath, ANU E Press, p219
  2. Roko Tui Dreketi World of Royalty
  3. Who's who in New Zealand 1951, p234
  4. Picturesque Native Ceremonies Mark Installation of Fijian Official Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1936, pp58–59
  5. Fijian Chiefs Would Hand Over Land to Government Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1936, p63
  6. Fiji's Legislative Council Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1937, p63
  7. Deaths of islands people Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1961, p141
  8. Pacific recipients of birthday honours Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1951, p101
  9. Fiji's Legislative Council at work Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1946, p33
  10. Fiji Executive Council Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1948, p13
  11. Colonial Office, The Church House, S.W.1. The London Gazette, 3 July 1953
  12. Fiji Royal Gazette 1961, p368
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