Mr. Hugo Rey – a visionary entrepreneur – passed away at his residence on February 25, 2022. In a show of respect for his legacy, flags are currently flown at half-mast at his business place, and will remain that way until his interment.
He was the son of the late Wallace Rey who was one of the leaders of the Anguilla Revolution. He was also a husband, father, friend, and native son.
Like his father, Mr Hugo Rey displayed a balanced maturity as a young man, showing courage when he joined others in the cause for freedom during the Anguilla Revolution.
He later went on to serve as chief engineer responsible for construction, and construction engineering at the Public Works Department (now the Department of Infrastructure), ensuring that construction in Anguilla was done at an acceptable and measurable standard.
As a visionary, Mr Rey stepped away from the traditional jobs available in Anguilla, at the time, and recognised the need for services in a developing and progressing society that afforded him the opportunity to carve niche markets in Anguilla. His creative, forward-thinking, and commercial acuity, positioned him to try something out of the ordinary.
After leaving Public Works, he started Rey’s Funeral Home – the first provider of mortuary and crematory services on Anguilla. Over the years, these service offerings have evolved from the traditional funeral arrangements and forms of burial, to more personalised options.
He also started the first private waste collection service on the island, securing the first contract with the government for island-wide collection and disposal of household garbage.
Mr Hugo Rey will long be remembered as an entrepreneur and as a man who was passionate about seeing Anguilla progress. Whenever you had an encounter with him, he would often have many anecdotes to share about the Anguilla Revolution – some of them quite hilarious, and others deadly serious.
The Anguillian newspaper joins with many others in extending condolences to the family and friends of the late Mr Hugo Rey.
