Joe Williams (Cook Islands politician), Date of Birth, Place of Birth

    

Joe Williams (Cook Islands politician)

Cook Islands politician

Date of Birth: 04-Oct-1934

Place of Birth: Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Profession: physician, politician

Nationality: New Zealand

Zodiac Sign: Libra


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About Joe Williams (Cook Islands politician)

  • Joe Williams, QSO, is a Cook Islands politician who served briefly as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands in 1999.
  • Williams trained as a doctor, and has principally resided in Auckland, New Zealand. Williams gained election to the Cook Islands parliament as an "overseas MP", representing Cook Islanders living abroad (mostly in New Zealand).
  • Although a member of the Cook Islands Party, he opposed the premiership (1989 to 1999) of Geoffrey Henry, the party's leader from 1979 to 2006.
  • Many members of the Cook Islands Party opposed its coalition agreement with the New Alliance Party, and after several defections, Henry lost control to the dissidents and resigned.
  • In July 1999, Williams narrowly won endorsement as the new Prime Minister.
  • This prompted considerable anger in some quarters, primarily because Williams mostly lived outside the islands.
  • In October 1999 the New Alliance Party left the governing coalition, depriving the government of its majority.
  • Williams attempted to form a new government, but the following month he lost a vote of no-confidence to the opposition Democratic Alliance Party and the New Alliance Party.
  • Terepai Maoate became the new Prime Minister. In 2002, Williams became involved in a controversy regarding a proposed medical trial in the Cook Islands.
  • The trial, which involved injecting pig cells into humans as a means of fighting diabetes, could not legally take place in New Zealand, and therefore moved to the Cook Islands, where less strict regulations applied.
  • Williams, a strong supporter of the proposal, believed that it would bring benefits to the Cook Islands' economy, but the scheme aroused much controversy.
  • Later, the Cook Islands (unsuccessfully) nominated Williams to head the World Health Organization. Williams later attempted to start a political career in the New Zealand context, standing as a candidate for the New Zealand First party at 15th place in the party list and contesting the Maungakiekie electorate seat in the 2005 parliamentary elections.
  • He did not succeed in becoming an MP through either poll.

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