The West Indies Oil Company Limited (WIOC) is mourning the loss of one of its most storied partners, veteran Dominican entrepreneur McMillan Jno-Baptiste, who passed away recently, leaving behind a decades-long legacy of dedicated service to the people of Dominica.
As the owner of two McMillan Service Stations across the island nation, Jno-Baptiste held the distinction of operating the longest-standing active dealership in WIOC’s entire retail network, which spans both Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth of Dominica. His professional ties to the regional energy firm date back to 1972, marking a partnership that stretched across more than 50 years of consistent, community-focused operation.
In an official statement released Wednesday, WIOC extended its deepest condolences to Jno-Baptiste’s family, friends and loved ones on behalf of the company’s board of directors, executive leadership and all staff. Over the course of his half-century career, Jno-Baptiste built a reputation for unwavering commitment to customer care that earned him widespread admiration across multiple generations of Dominicans, turning his name into a household staple across the country. “Quite simply, Mr. Mac put the service in his service stations,” the company’s tribute reads.
WIOC Chief Executive Officer Gregory F. Georges expanded on Jno-Baptiste’s impact, noting that his legacy reaches far beyond the boundaries of the petroleum retail sector. Georges described the late businessman as a man defined by core values of unshakable integrity, quiet resilience, genuine humility and consistent generosity, emphasizing that the thriving business he built, the local community he lifted up, and the countless lives he touched will ensure his memory endures for decades to come.
Georges also shared a personal reflection on a meeting he held with Jno-Baptiste just five weeks before the entrepreneur’s death. The pair spent their time swapping stories about Jno-Baptiste’s childhood in the capital city of Roseau, and his school years at the Roseau Boys School, where he attended classes alongside Georges’ own father and uncle. Georges recalled the conversation as a warm, joyful exchange filled with enthusiasm, laughter and cherished shared memories that he will hold close.
Closing the tribute, Georges offered heartfelt sympathies on behalf of the entire WIOC community, saying that the company is holding Jno-Baptiste’s family in prayer as they navigate this period of grief, asking for strength and peace to comfort them in their loss.