Career
Williams trained as a doctor, and has principally resided in Auckland, New Zealand. Williams gained election to the Cook Islands parliament as an "overseas Member of Parliament", representing Cook Islanders living abroad (mostly in New Zealand). 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 Organisation.