Well-known Dominican businessman McMillan Jno-Baptiste, one of the country’s longest-serving fuel retailers, is being described as a pioneer, and “pioneers are not easily replaced.”
This is according to Natasha Yeeloy-Labad, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce ( DAIC), via a press statement.
Jno Baptiste died at his home on Monday. He was 90-years-old.
“Mr. Mc, as he is so fondly remembered, began his career in 1956. That’s a full 69 years of dedication to commerce, service and entrepreneurship in Dominica,” she said. “ Over that extraordinary span of time, he built what became a landmark of Dominican business life: the McMillan All-in-One Service Station in Castle Comfort.”
According to the PRO, he went on to own and manage several fuel and service facilities, establishing himself as the longest-serving petrol reseller in the Commonwealth of Dominica, “a distinction that speaks not only to his longevity but also to his resilience, his commitment and the trust that generations of Dominicans placed in him.”
“For nearly seven decades, Mr. Jno. Baptiste showed up. He served his customers, employed members of his community, and contributed to the economy of this island, and carried himself with a quiet dignity as a man who understood that business at its best is an act of service,” Yeeloy-Labad stated.
She added, “He continued working well into his later years, a testament to a work ethic that was as much part of him as the enterprise he built.”
Yeeloy-Labad went on to state that as a long-standing member of the DAIC, Mr. Jno. Baptiste was part of the fabric of this chamber and of Dominica’s broader commercial community.
“Baptiste showed up. He served his customers, employed members of his community, and contributed to the economy of this island, and carried himself with a quiet dignity as a man who understood that business at its best is an act of service,” Yeeloy-Labad stated.
She added, “He continued working well into his later years, a testament to a work ethic that was as much part of him as the enterprise he built.”
Labad went on to state that as a long-standing member of the DAIC, Mr. Jno. Baptiste was part of the fabric of this chamber and of Dominica’s broader commercial community.
“His name and his station were woven into the everyday life of this island for generations. He is by every measure a pioneer and pioneers are not easily replaced,” she emphasized.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, membership and the wider business community of Dominica, the DAIC extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. McMillan John Baptiste.
“May they find strength and comfort in one another and may they take pride in knowing that the life he lived and the legacy he leaves behind have made this island a better place,” Yeeloy- Labad said. “ May his soul rest in eternal peace. “
During his long career, Jno-Baptiste witnessed significant changes in the petroleum industry, including fluctuations in fuel prices and rising operating costs. Yeeloy-Labad said that despite the challenges, he remained committed to providing an essential service to the Dominican public and continued to manage his business well into his later years.
Jno-Baptiste’s contribution to Dominica’s business community and petroleum sector earned him widespread respect. His passing marks the end of a remarkable career defined by hard work, perseverance, and decades of service to the nation.
