In Memoriam: Phillip Nassief (1933-2024)
Phillip Nassief (1933-2024)
It is with heavy hearts that we honor the life and legacy of Phillip Nassief who was the father of Secret Bay’s founder Gregor Nassief. Phillip passed away on April 28th, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of entrepreneurship, generosity, and community spirit.
Phillip’s influence on Gregor was immense and his life and achievements were Gregor’s primary inspiration. During the celebration of Secret Bay’s 10th anniversary, where the 10 most influential persons in Secret Bay’s history were recognized, Phillip was first on the list as the spark that made Secret Bay possible. At the ceremony, Gregor shared, “As a 12-year old boy, I free climbed the cliffs at Secret Bay and dreamt of owning and living on these lands one day. In my late 20s, I learned that my father owned a ½ acre of land at Secret Bay. I immediately asked him if I could buy it. He agreed and had paid $9/sq. ft. for the land; he sold it to me for $7/sq. ft. That was Dad – he wanted us to take nothing for granted but was always generous. And there began the story of Secret Bay.”
After completing his education at McGill University in Canada, Phillip returned to Dominica, where he took the helm of his father’s modest rum business and started a soap operation which became Dominica Coconut Products Ltd (DCP), Dominica’s leading manufacturing enterprise and a Caribbean success story. Under his leadership, DCP flourished, becoming renowned for its quality products and exemplary management practices. Phillip’s commitment to his employees, his community, and the region at large earned him widespread admiration and respect.
Phillip’s impact extended beyond the manufacturing industry. In 1986, with a group of local investors, he led the revitalization of the Fort Young Hotel which had been destroyed by Hurricane David in 1979, transforming it into a cornerstone of Dominica’s tourism industry.
Phillip (right) inspecting Secret Bay’s first Zabuco villa
Beyond his business acumen, Phillip was a humanitarian at heart. He spearheaded initiatives to uplift his community, including establishing a senior citizen’s home and supporting small businesses through the National Development Foundation (NDFD). His philanthropic endeavors extended even further with the creation of the Elias Nassief Foundation, dedicated to aiding those in need, particularly the elderly.
His dedication to development and ethics earned him numerous accolades including in 1977, Dominica’s highest honor, the Dominica Award of Honor. In 2002, Caricom honored him as one of the Caribbean’s Leading Voices of the 20th Century. And in 2004, he was honored by the American Foundation of the University of the West Indies, as “among the luminaries of the past 100 years who have left their indelible mark on the Caribbean region and the world”.
Phillip Nassief’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of many, but his legacy of innovation, compassion, and community empowerment will continue to inspire generations to come.
