Friends and family gathered at the Fort Young Hotel on Monday 2 March, to launch a book dedicated to the life and legacy of Mr. Waddy Astaphans.

The book entitled ‘A Biography of Anthony Waddy Astaphan’ was written by Irving Andre.

Simeon Joseph

Former principal Simeon Jospeh who was charged with outlining Mr. Astaphan’s economic contribution to Dominica, read excerpts from the book which spoke about the struggles the family endured while setting up business in Dominica. According to the book, the colonial climate in Dominica regarded Joseph Astaphan (Waddy’s father),a Lebanese immigrant, as lacking the education and social graces to enter the business community. However, the family persisted and have a thriving business to prove it. According to the book, for Waddy Astaphan, “Involvement in the family business was not just a vocation, it was a destiny”.

Anthony Astaphans

Senior counsel, Anthony Astaphan, remembers his father as a man of principle who ensured that the children got the education and discipline they needed.

Astaphan whose entrepreneurship grew one of the largest supermarkets in Dominica passed away on December 19, 2016.