St Lucia Governor General Sir Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles has demitted office after serving as the island’s head of state representative since November 2024.

The Office of the Prime Minister announced that Charles officially vacated the post on July 31.

Former Member of Parliament and government minister Felix Finisterre assumed the role of Acting Governor General on August 1.

Charles had initially served as Acting Governor General from November 2021 before being formally appointed to the office on November 1, 2024, following the departure of Sir Neville Cenac.

In a statement read by Press Secretary Melissa Paul, Prime Minister Philip Pierre thanked Charles for his service, noting that he presided over several significant constitutional milestones during his tenure.

Those included the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the accession and coronation of King Charles III, and St Lucia’s transition from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to the Caribbean Court of Justice as its final court of appeal.

“Throughout his tenure, he discharged the responsibilities of the office of the Governor-General with dignity, steadiness and respect for the country’s constitutional traditions,” Pierre said.

No reason was given for Sir Cyril’s departure.