Earl Williams (politician)

Earl Michael Williams
Earl Michael Williams
7th Leader of the Opposition
In office 16 July 2007 – 30 July 2008
Preceded by	Edison James
Succeeded by	Ronald Green
Member of Parliament for Salisbury
In office 28 May 1990 – 18 Dec 2009
Succeeded by	Hector John
Majority	440 (65.9%)
Personal details
Born	(1964-02-28) February 28, 1964 (age 53) Southall, England
Political party	UWP
Children	3
Residence	Salisbury
Alma mater	UWI
Profession	Lawyer
Website	http://www.uwpdm.com/

Earl Michael Williams (born February 28, 1964) is a Dominican politician who was Leader of the Opposition in Dominica and Political Leader of the United Workers' Party from 2007 to 2008.

Williams was educated at the Salisbury Government School and the Community High School. He completed his A-Levels at the Sixth Form College.

Williams then served as a teacher at various schools on the island and participated in sports as a coach and player. He was an active member of the Credit Union movement not only in Salisbury but on the Island as well as the Caribbean. He served both on the Supervisory Committee and the board of the Salisbury Co-operative Credit Union as Well as Treasurer of the Dominica Credit Union League Movement and twice was one of Dominicas Delegates at the Caribbean Conference of Credit Unions.

Williams was a member of the Young Freedom Movement, the youth arm of the Dominica Freedom Party which was important to the party's success. He was very active in his community, and he was rewarded for this when in the 1990 General Elections he was elected to Parliament for the Salisbury Constituency. By this time he was no longer associated with the Freedom Party and was now a member of the UWP.

The youngest ever parliamentarian on the island, he learned quickly and was a very vocal member of the opposition. In 1995 the UWP formed the government and Williams widened his margin of victory in the Salisbury (Barroui) Constituency, transforming it into a UWP stronghold. He was appointed Minister of Communications and Works and Housing. As a minister he was very instrumental in the liberalization of the telecoms market within the OECS states,by issuing a licence to telecoms provider Marpin Telecoms thereby opening up the sector for competition on the island. This decision had positive implications for the entire OECS since at that time there were plans on reforming the sector.

In the January 31, 2000, General Elections Williams comfortably retained his seat. However, the UWP did not retain enough seats in the Parliament and they again returned to the opposition. Williams then decided that he would attend the University of the West Indies to study Law. This provoked some criticism from government supporters, but generally his constituents were not angered by his decision.