Today, we pause to honour and celebrate the life and legacy of Thecla Deterville, née Walcott—a remarkable professional, an outstanding President of the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and a true stalwart of private sector development in Saint Lucia.
Before her deep involvement with the Chamber, Thecla built a sterling career in banking and retail, distinguishing herself through competence, integrity, and leadership. It was during her tenure at Courts Saint Lucia that her relationship with the Chamber truly flourished—one that would evolve into decades of meaningful contribution, influence, and quiet transformation.
Thecla first served on the Chamber’s Board from 1998 to 2001, during a period of intense national dialogue and economic challenge. Even then, she stood out as one of the most thoughtful, balanced, and insightful voices at the table, alongside people like the late Ferrel Bam Charles and Leslie Clarke.
In 2003, she returned to serve as President, leading the Chamber with distinction. Her presidency was marked by vision, structure, and impact.
From the very beginning, Thecla immersed herself fully in the work of the Chamber. She served with distinction on the Board, chaired committees, and represented the Chamber on numerous national bodies. In every role, she brought clarity of thought, sound judgment, and unwavering professionalism. She was articulate yet measured, firm yet respectful, and always guided by principle.
She championed what is now one of the Chamber’s most important pillars, the Chamber’s People Development Programme. She led the first formal Training Needs Assessment, laying the foundation for a training agenda that would grow into one of the Chamber’s most successful and sustainable initiatives.
Another one of her early and enduring contributions was her role in the development of the Chamber’s Entry Level Skills Training Programme; a pioneering initiative aimed at equipping young professionals and entry-level employees with essential workplace skills. Thecla did not simply support this programme; she helped shape and deliver it. Her modules on communication and motivation were consistently praised, and to this day, many professionals who I encounter, credit that programme as a turning point in their careers. That is the kind of impact she had; practical, lasting, and transformative.
Permit me a brief personal reflection. My first meaningful interaction with Thecla left an indelible impression on me. In a simple conversation, she offered advice about service, leadership, and expectations that has stayed with me throughout my life. She spoke about giving of yourself fully, expecting little in return, and knowing when to step aside with grace and dignity.
As I reflect today, it is clear; that is exactly how Thecla lived. She gave selflessly, served faithfully, and stepped back quietly, without fanfare, without expectation, and without regret.
Thecla understood something fundamental: that the strength of the private sector lies in the strength of its team Members.
She was also a steady and credible voice in the Chamber’s engagement with Government. Even in the most delicate discussions, she remained calm, composed, and resolute. She did not need volume to be heard—her clarity and conviction carried weight. As she once remarked with quiet authority when some questioned the credibility of the Chamber’s Business Performance Survey, “our cash registers know long before we tell you.” In that moment, she captured the lived reality of business in a way no textbook ever could.
Beyond policy and advocacy, Thecla’s influence extended into areas many would not immediately connect to business, human resource development, mentorship, healthy lifestyles, and professional networking. She encouraged and pushed for the establishment of the Chamber’s once dynamic, inter-commercial sports competitions, in football, basketball, netball and volleyball.
She was instrumental in shaping the Chamber’s HR Forum, now known as HR Connect, and played a key role in introducing globally recognized training such as the Dale Carnegie programme, which remains a flagship offering today.
She also contributed to broader national development, pushing for the Chamber to be brave and initiate, and helping to advance thinking around a national export strategy that would eventually support the establishment of Export Saint Lucia.
What made Thecla truly exceptional, however, was not just what she did—but how she did it.
She did not seek recognition.
She did not pursue the spotlight.
She did not attach her name to her achievements.
And yet, her fingerprints are everywhere.
In programmes that continue to thrive.
In institutions that continue to serve.
In professionals who continue to grow.
She was, in every sense, a quiet architect of progress.
Thecla also believed deeply in inclusion and opportunity. She encouraged the participation and advancement of women in business, not through pronouncement, but through example and influence. Many who followed found inspiration in her quiet strength and steady leadership.
The Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce has been profoundly enriched by her service. It is no exaggeration to say that the institution we know today is stronger, more relevant, and more impactful because of Thecla Deterville.
To her family, we say thank you—thank you for sharing her with us. If she gave you even a fraction of what she gave to this Chamber and to this country, then you have been richly blessed.
And to Thecla-
we say thank you.
For your service.
For your wisdom.
For your grace.
Your legacy lives on—in this Chamber, in this business community, and in St. Lucia and of course in the many lives you have touched.
May you rest in perfect peace.