Tribute To Sir Thomas Davis

Tulou, tulou, tulouna lava.

A shining star has been removed from the Pacific sky.

The Otara communities are deeply saddened by the loss of the Cook Islands’ most famous son, Sir Thomas Davis, who died yesterday aged 90 on Rarotonga.

We join with the people of the Cook Islands in mourning a Pacific leader who achieved significant heights in both his medical and political career, even becoming Space Surgeon for America’s NASA programme, and later Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 1978 to 1987 after he had founded the Cook Islands Democratic Party in 1971.

Sir Thomas Davis’ eminent contribution were not confined to the fields of medicine and politics. He was passionate about Polynesian voyaging and yachting and was awarded Sportsman Achiever of the Year in Yachting, 1998, and was later recognized by the NZ Achievers Magazine as Pacific Islander of the Century in 1999.

His many achievements speaks loud to each of us that Pacific people have so much potential to reach greatness as he did, through serving people. His life is an example of service not just to the Cook Islands people but to the world.

We farewell Sir Thomas Davis and thank him for setting such a strong example for all future Pacific generations to follow.Â

We convey our sincerest condolences to the family of Sir Thomas Davis, and we convey our deepest sorrow to the people of the 15 main islands of the Cook Islands, and those throughout the world. Â We will forever remember him affectionately as Papa Tom.

We wish Sir Thomas Davis a permanent place in the heavens.

Aere ra i te Metua Tane, i te rekareka anga o to tätou pu.

Ends.