Neville Cenac

Sir Emmanuel Neville Cenac (24 November 1939 – 2 June 2026) was a Saint Lucian politician who served as the governor-general of Saint Lucia from 2018 to 2021. Previously, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1987 to 1992.

Early life Cenac was born in Castries, Saint Lucia, British Windward Islands on 24 November 1939. He was the brother of Prime Minister Winston Cenac, who was the head of government for eight months from 1981 to 1982. Cenac joined the Saint Lucia Labour Party in 1968. He was the mayor of Castries from 1981 to 1982, The dispute ended when Williams resigned on 13 December 1982.

He was returned as a Labour Party member of the Saint Lucian parliament during the country's two successive elections in April 1987.

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 in Castries.

Cabinet minister Cenac changed his political affiliation on 2 June 1987, joining the United Workers Party group in parliament and becoming the country's foreign 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).

He spoke before the United Nations General Assembly in October 1987, saying that Saint Lucia was considering political union with other small Caribbean 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 accused Guatemala of threatening the sovereignty of Belize.

In August 1989, Cenac and other Caribbean foreign ministers met with Haitian head of state General Prosper Avril on the subject of future elections in the country.

Cenac served as foreign minister until 1992. He was appointed UWP senator in 1992, and in 1993 was appointed President of the Senate.

Death Cenac died on 2 June 2026, at the age of 86.

Honours On 18 January 2018, Cenac was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 2018 Special Honours.

Also in 2018, Cenac was appointed Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia (GCSL), in his capacity as Chancellor of the Order.

Works In 2024, Cenac published his autobiography, C’est L’huere – Crossing the Divide.