Trees spark outrage, teen murder charge met with silence
Political commentator Cindy Rosan has sparked debate over what some residents see as misplaced priorities in the BVI, questioning why the DeCastro Street tree controversy has generated greater public outrage than news that a 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder.
Police last week confirmed the teen was charged with the murder of Eric Albert, who was fatally shot in Greenland on June 20, 2025.
“Less than 24 hours ago, we learned that a [14]-year-old was charged with a murder. But somehow, our biggest outrage this morning is still some trees!” Rosan wrote on Facebook. “No wonder this place going to HELL.” Rosan’s comments came amid sustained public debate over plans to remove mature trees along DeCastro Street as part of an improvement project. She said while residents have legitimate concerns about the trees, those concerns should not prevent improvements to Road Town.
Her Facebook post pulled nearly 60 social media users, who expressed outrage over the teen who will soon face the courts for his alleged involvement in a murder.
“How can we as a community not speak out about this and demand more for our young people,” one commenter said, adding that parents also need help raising children. “It takes a village.”
Another online user questioned how illegal firearms are reaching the territory. “What keeps coming up in my mind is the availability of illegal weapons in the territory. We don’t make them here.”
“Police should offer $1,000 to anyone reporting someone else having a gun,” another person suggested.
One resident called for a “full-time 24/7 operational coast guard” to strengthen immigration, customs, ports, and police capabilities against firearms, narcotics and human trafficking.
“Something needs to happen. Gun crime, especially under-age gun crime, is extremely concerning,” another resident wrote. They also pointed to the “obvious availability of weapons” and the influence of the “gangster” label on young people.
One person simply described the intense focus on the trees as a “massive distraction,” while one resident said both controversies reflected “the same problem of cockeyed priorities.”
In the meantime, Acting Interim Police Commissioner Richard Ullger has described the murder charge against a child as evidence of a “critical rupture” in the territory’s social fabric and called for greater intervention to steer young people away from violent crime.
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Life is cheap in the Caribbean. And the reason we are raising a hubbub about the trees is we are beyond vexed with the govt’s misplaced priorities. People don’t have running water, the island looks like a garbage pit and the gov’t is hell bent on replacing the pavement and replanting trees along a stretch of road in town. A 14yr old charged with murder is an abomination. but life is cheap in the Caribbean…
Because it’s easier to hide behind a distraction than face the realities in front of us. The fact that a debate about trees can generate more outrage than a 14-year-old being charged with murder shows how misplaced our priorities are.
We are losing our society bit by bit, focused on the symptoms instead of the disease, on the scenery instead of the foundation. While we argue over trees, the deeper issues threatening our community remain unaddressed, and the foundation beneath us continues to crumble.
Let’s stop acting brand new. We see how the youth behave, we see how their PARENTS LET THEM BEHAVE! Why are we acting shocked at this? Many of these young people are left to fend for themselves and raised by electronic devices. If they are on an iPad from 6yrs old watching whatever they like, no supervision, no guidance, how do you expect them to behave 7yrs later at 13yrs old? Stop with the fake outrage and hold parents accountable for their offspring.
What is sad is there is outrage about a few old trees and no outrage for old pallets, 40 ft rusty containers, car washes and old derelict vehicles along with mechanic/chop shops in the middle of the same parking lots. Most of the uproar is political and not genuine. Nobody speaks of the Frett building next to Banco that has become a Haitian Slum either but they care about the BVI.
Cindy is right on this one.
What is the value of a life in the BVI? Many were silent when our citizens were being gunned down, remember the silence from our leaders when they killed an 11yr old school child & Mr.Penn. We must learn to value every life – young,old, rich & poor!!
A number of years ago the Hotel and Tourist Association launched the 1-800 number for calling in leads on crimes called Crimestoppers. It went nowhere. In my view one of the draw backs was the number being posted on police cars. People in the Virgin Islands do not trust police. They think the police are part of the crime problem. They also think the number is being answered locally and the criminals will know who called in the tips. The association started a non profit which of course had a board. Members on the board had trust issues with the police and people in general. So putting out offers of rewards for persons calling in crimes went nowhere. They relaunched Crimestoppers a year or two later and again, it went nowhere. A child killed a man. I’m sure people were standing around when that happened and know all kinds of things but no one is going to say anything, not even if Jesus Christ came down and said I’ll keep your confidentiality, trust me. A grown man was shot and killed in daylight on a public beach. If there are leads then its a big secret, and I can understand that. But that sad story isn’t even on our radar anymore, it’s last few weeks ago news. So not only do we trust no one we are numb. We are the same people who take pictures of dead bodies and send them out on the web. I’m not sure why anyone is surprised that a child killed someone and no one is talking about it. Another idea is we constantly talk about being a christian society but this is were we are as a law abiding, God fearing society. We don’t complain about a lot of things because we don’t know who has the guns. Trees don’t have guns. We can stick up for them and no one gets killed. People might ridicule others for being tree huggers but no one is going to kill you for that.
Maybe because we feel we can actually make an impact by trying to protect the trees. Meanwhile, everyone knows that with an inept DPP the 14yo will get off on a no case submission and will be back walking among us just now.
We aren’t outrage about just some trees. It’s the concern of our governments priorities. What do you mean some trees and sidewalks (that don’t need work btw) takes precedent over rebuilding a school, fixing the countries water issues, fixing Purcells drainage issue….or staffing the damn hospital. Don’t try to diminish our concerns
When our incarcerated former Premier voiced he knew how to move drugs, ammunition into this country no one took that serious, now Mr. Premier is producido criminals to entertain, influence our our youths
Tell Cindy to go sit down. People can be outraged at what they want to be. There has been a constant outrage at the violence in the territory. Ever heard of multitasking? Just because something new came up people don’t have to drop one concern to be equally or overly outraged by the new issue. Silly. Is it new to the BVI that some of our young people have embraced violence and murder as a norm? It is not, so excuse some of us if we are tired of it. Just like we are tired of politicians’ behaviors going unchecked and unaccountable. The concern about the trees is just as important as other concerns. Don’t tell people how to react!
We are OUTRAGED with just about everything in this country. At least the police looks like they are solving ONE murder out of Dozens of Unsolved ones.
Parents are to blame for all their kids and need to take responsibility. The community needs to provide all the support they can but its no longer the village raising the child.
In the mean time, this tree project is not a priority. Let the trees BE. Actually the sidewalk from the ferry dock to the Park needs a lot more work as the tourists have a wild time maneuvering that in wheel chairs and walking.
Cindy spoke facts
I felt the same energy when Kai was killed and all those fights and gun shot incidents all during festival. But the party animals wanted to continue partying….we are so lost.
We let this criminal culture and over sexualised culture take root and destroy a whole generation..
A lot of them don’t care cause them know who bringing in guns. Them know the killas then know the drug man then but won’t say ntn.
All them woman who got upset when the news say then dressing like prostitute. Them same woman does he on fast boat’s and around a set of dudes who clearly look like criminals and “businessman”
It’s surprising that they don’t care. We literally got youths and adults shouting “she loves gun man” “she loves bad man” gun man in she hole etc and think that is normal
Not shocked at all
Cindy. The person the teen murdered is dead sadly.
The trees are not dead yet.
They can be saved.
The teen and the dead person cannot.
Let’s focus on and save the trees for the moment.
We should then get back to not only why the VI has teen killers but also why VI society does not condemn killers of children or drug smuggling money laundering Premiers.
Tax monies wasting on trees. Outrage can stop it. We can’t stop gun crime. Only police can do that since only them are allowed guns.
Find away to beautify and preserve the trees. The place is so, so hot, removing trees is unconscionable, a Sin….As for that murder, I sincerely believe an adult is the master mind. It seems like the police didn’t get him to talk. They needed to give him the water interigation..
Cindy hit the nail on the head!!!!!
However illegal guns in the territory will forever be an ongoing thing unless the government has stricter policies and up to date resources for border officers to use. Look at customs, to this day we have passengers coming into the territory killing and returning home and yess! coming right through with the weapons, Another unsolved murder. Just saying maybe if we had machines for luggages to go through we can prevent a lot of illegal items from entering. We should also implement stricter security for our borders when anyone is leaving, 2026 and no one is going through immigration before departing the territory SMH. #preventionbetterthancure #justmy2cents