Deterville, he said, was an early advocate of the Black Power movement and upon his return from university became heavily engaged in the struggles of the Saint Lucian working class.

Queen’s Counsel Hilford Deterville passed away on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014 in Canada.

Deterville was a President of the Senate, the Seamen and General Workers Trade Union, and the Saint Lucia Bar Association; and was a member of the Electoral Commission.

Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony expressed deep sorrow at his passing.

“My heart is heavy and my soul exhausted for I have lost a teacher, mentor and dear friend,” he said. “Like everyone else, I accept the inevitability of death; however, the pain of losing a close friend and confidante is not diminished.”

Reflecting on their friendship Dr. Anthony said he had known Hilford Deterville for more than four decades. Deterville, he said, was an early advocate of the Black Power movement and upon his return from university became heavily engaged in the struggles of the Saint Lucian working class.

“He was not born of privilege and his early life at La Pansée was largely one of challenges. It was perhaps the daily struggles he faced which would eventually shape him into becoming the champion of the working and dispossessed class.”

Dr. Anthony added that he will miss Deterville’s patience and presence.

“I will miss his wise counsel, for Hilford never did anything on the spur of the moment. He thought through every decision and was never hasty in judgment. In his eyes, everyone was right until proven wrong. No matter how often I called with a problem, Hilford was never too busy to attend to it.”

Dr. Anthony said he is proud to have been regarded by Deterville as a friend and was privileged to have him as a friend.