Sir Neville Cenac | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 6th Governor-General of Saint Lucia | |
| In office 12 January 2018 – 31 October 2021 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Allen Chastanet Philip J. Pierre |
| Preceded by | Pearlette Louisy |
| Succeeded by | Errol Charles |
| President of the Senate of Saint Lucia | |
| In office October 1993 – June 1997 | |
| Prime Minister | John Compton Vaughan Lewis |
| Preceded by | Emmanuel Henry Giraudy |
| Succeeded by | Hilford Deterville |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 1987–1992 | |
| Preceded by | John Compton |
| Succeeded by | George Mallet |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1939-11-24)24 November 1939 (age 86) |
| Political party | Saint Lucia Labour Party 1968-1987,United Workers Party 1987- |
| Relatives | Winston Cenac (brother) |
Sir Emmanuel Neville CenacGCSLGCMG[2] (born 24 November 1939)[3] is aSaint Lucianpolitician who served as thegovernor-general of Saint Lucia from 2018 to 2021.[4][5][6][7] Previously, he served as theMinister of Foreign Affairs from 1987 to 1992.
Cenac was the brother ofPrime MinisterWinston Cenac, who was thehead of government for eight months from 1981 to 1982.[8] Cenac joined theSaint Lucia Labour Party in 1968.[1] He was the mayor ofCastries from 1981 to 1982,[1] when he resigned in to became the leader ofLabour Party and theLeader of the Opposition in 1982.[1]
Cenac was theLeader of the Opposition in December 1982, during a constitutional dispute over the status ofGovernor-GeneralBoswell Williams.John Compton, the serving prime minister and a member of the governingUnited Workers Party, had taken steps to have Williams unseated. In response, Cenac wrote a letter toElizabeth II,Queen of Saint Lucia, asking her to disregard Compton's actions.[9] The dispute ended when Williams resigned on 13 December 1982.
Cenac was returned as a Labour Party member of theSaint Lucian parliament during the country's two successive elections in April 1987.[10]
The website of the Saint Lucia Labour Party indicates that Cenac was elected for the Laborie constituency in two elections as well as representing the party at the municipal level inCastries.[11]
Cenac changed his political affiliation on 2 June 1987, joining the United Workers Party group in parliament and becoming the country'sforeign minister. When asked why he changed sides, Cenac simply responded, "broken promises". The change increased the Workers Party's legislative majority from one vote (9–8) to three votes (10–7).[12]
Cenac spoke before theUnited Nations General Assembly in October 1987, saying that Saint Lucia was considering political union with other smallCaribbean nations. He argued that quality of life issues could be improved if the region no longer had to support "seven governors-general, seven prime ministers, [and] 60 ministers for a total population for about 500,000." Cenac also accusedGuatemala ofthreatening the sovereignty ofBelize.[13]
In August 1989, Cenac and other Caribbean foreign ministers met withHaitianhead of state GeneralProsper Avril on the subject of future elections in the country.[14]
Cenac served as foreign minister until 1992. He was appointed as UWP senator in 1992, and in 1993 was appointed asPresident of the Senate.[1] He was president of theSenate of Saint Lucia from October 1993 to June 1997.
On 18 January 2018, Cenac was appointedKnight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the2018 Special Honours.[15]
Also in 2018, Cenac was appointed Grand Cross of theOrder of Saint Lucia (GCSL), in his capacity as Chancellor of the Order.[16]
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Governor-General of Saint Lucia 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |