Premier Hails Pusser’s Founder Tobias
Charles S. Tobias MBE, founder of Pusser’s Rum Ltd., died on October 14, 2025 at age 91. Premier Wheatley praised Tobias’s lasting economic, cultural and tourism contributions to the Virgin Islands and extended condolences to his family.
Tobias MBE, the creator and founder of Pusser’s Rum Ltd., died on October 14, 2025 at the age of 91. Born in Canada, Tobias made the Virgin Islands his professional home and played a central role in reviving the Royal Navy rum recipe in 1979 and building a global brand rooted in the Territory.
Premier Wheatley, in a government press release, described Tobias’s contributions to the Virgin Islands economy as “both visionary and enduring.” By basing Pusser’s operations in the Virgin Islands, Wheatley said, Tobias generated local employment, supported small businesses and helped shape a tourism ecosystem that continues to benefit residents across the Territory.
Tobias’s businesses—including Pusser’s restaurants, retail shops and branded experiences—drew international visitors and reinforced the BVI’s reputation as a premier sailing and hospitality destination. The Premier highlighted Tobias’s insistence on keeping the brand anchored in the Virgin Islands, even when offered more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, calling that loyalty a testament to his belief in the islands’ potential.
Beyond commercial success, Tobias was remembered as a cultural ambassador who wove naval tradition and island hospitality into Pusser’s identity. His establishments became gathering places where locals and visitors shared meals, stories and toasts to the sea. The Premier also noted Tobias’s charitable support for civic causes and his reputation for generosity and integrity.
Tobias was recognised as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2011 for his contributions. Wheatley described him as a decorated veteran, visionary entrepreneur and beloved community figure whose legacy is “woven into the very fabric of our tourism and cultural identity.” For BVI residents, Tobias’s impact is visible in jobs, supply chains and the hospitality experiences that anchor many coastal communities.
His promotion of maritime heritage and commitment to local sourcing helped sustain small enterprises—from suppliers and restaurant staff to marina services—that rely on a steady flow of visitors and yachting traffic. The Government of the Virgin Islands joins the community in extending deepest condolences to Tobias’s family, friends and all who were touched by his life’s work.
As the Territory reflects on his passing, Premier Wheatley said the government honours Tobias not only for what he built but for how he built it—with courage, generosity and an unwavering commitment to the Virgin Islands. This account is based on the government press release as reported by Virgin Islands News Online.
Primary source: VINO