Joe Williams (Cook Islands politician)

Cook Islands doctor and politician

Joseph Williams QSO QSM (4 October 1934 – 4 September 2020) was a Cook Islands politician and medical doctor. He was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands for four months in 1999.[1]

Joe Williams

Williams in 2011
5th Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
In office
29 July 1999 (1999-07-29) – 18 November 1999 (1999-11-18)
MonarchElizabeth II
DeputyNorman George
Tupou Faireka
RepresentativeApenera Short
Preceded byGeoffrey Henry
Succeeded byTerepai Maoate
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
29 July 1999 – 18 November 1999
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byInatio Akaruru
Succeeded byRobert Woonton
Minister of Health and Education
In office
1974–1978
Prime MinisterAlbert Henry
Minister of Health, Tourism, Transport and State-Owned Enterprises
In office
1994–1996
Prime MinisterGeoffrey Henry
Member of the Cook Islands Parliament
for Overseas
In office
24 March 1994 – 7 September 2004
Preceded byIaveta Arthur
Succeeded byNone (Constituency abolished)
Personal details
Born(1934-10-04)4 October 1934
Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Died4 September 2020(2020-09-04) (aged 85)
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyCook Islands Party

In August 2020, Williams was hospitalised in Auckland after testing positive for COVID-19.[2][3][4] He died on 4 September 2020 from the infection, aged 85.[5][6][7]

References

change
  1. "Mt Wellington Integrated Health Centre". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  2. Jonathan Milne (14 August 2020). "Former Cooks prime minister Dr Joe Williams in hospital". Cook Islands News. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. "Covid 19 coronavirus: Former Cook Islands prime minister and doctor in hospital in Auckland". New Zealand Herald. 15 August 2020. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  4. Dr Kiki Maoate (16 August 2020). "A few words from our President". Pasifika Medical Association. Facebook. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  5. "Former Cook Islands PM dies in Auckland after contracting Covid". Radio New Zealand. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. "Dr Joseph Williams MBChB, MPH, QSM,QSO". Pasifika Medical Association. 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  7. Kumar, Rashneel (5 September 2020). "Dr Joe Williams passes on". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 4 September 2020.