DeCastro trees debacle shouldn’t stop Road Town development

Cindy Rosan Political commentator Cindy Rosan has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the DeCastro Street improvement project, arguing that concerns over the removal of mature trees should not derail long-awaited efforts to improve Road Town. Her comments come amid public backlash over plans to remove mature trees along DeCastro Street as part of the sidewalk improvement project. Rosan used her personal Facebook page to state that she understands the public’s attachment to the trees and criticised the government for failing to properly communicate the plans. However, she said residents must also consider whether the existing trees can coexist with safer and more accessible infrastructure over the long term.

The Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) has said roots from the existing Mahogany, White Cedar and Yellow Poui trees have damaged sections of the sidewalk and would interfere with reconstruction. Rosan said the debate should therefore go beyond whether the trees can simply be saved. “ The bigger question should be: ‘ Can we save these trees AND build infrastructure that will remain safe, accessible and functional for decades? ’ ” she argued. She noted that residents have complained for years about the condition and appearance of Road Town and said there must eventually be a transition from discussing improvements to actually carrying them out. Gov’t should be held accountable At the same time, Rosan backed calls for greater transparency, saying the government should release any engineering or arboricultural assessments used to determine that the trees cannot remain. She also stressed that the RDA should be held accountable for its…