Eggelton spoke candidly, taking the time to highlight “an icon here in the Cook Islands”, as she closed the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit in Rarotonga on Thursday.  “Finally, we come to one more important part of the evening. “Earlier our Minister (Associate Minister for Tourism for the Cook Islands Tingika Elikana) highlighted our people being the heart of our little paradise. “At this juncture, I would like to acknowledge one such individual, who is an icon here in the Cook Islands.“Those of you who have visited our country before will have been greeted by the gentle strums of his ukulele and his smooth, welcoming voice.” “I am speaking of course, of no other than our Papa Jake Numanga. Te Tane Toa Kamaatu o te Mato Manava Turoto o te Ipukarea; a man who is specialised in his skill and wise in his craft as an artist, musician and entertainer.” Papa Jake began singing from an early age with his late father, Tiakana Numanga, his mother, the late Mama Titi Numanga and his uncle, the late Apenera Short, Eggelton said. “He went on to win prestigious awards such as the Queen Elizabeth Award for his talent in composing songs. “This also included winning numerous talent quests back in the early 50s. “It was these events that sparked the monumental journey for Papa Jake in his career as a musician. “One such prime example was when he was personally invited by the president of Nauru to follow a contingency of delegates led by the late Papa Cookie Sadaraka to sing at a significant conference held in Nauru.” Papa Jake sang in an era where the Cook Islands, namely Rarotonga was just in its infancy stages of tourism...READ MORE