Rosan Flags STD Outbreak at High School
Media owner Cindy Rosan has warned of an alleged outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases among girls at a local high school, linking infections to sexual relationships between underage students and older men. Rosan says the problem reflects a wider social crisis involving youth behaviour, economic pressures and gaps in child protection and public health response in the BVI.
Media owner and commentator Cindy Rosan has raised alarm over what she described as an outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among girls at a local high school, saying the issue is part of a broader social crisis affecting young people across the British Virgin Islands.
Speaking on her Morning Facts programme this week, Rosan said she knows of “an outbreak of STDs amongst the young girls” at the school and linked the infections to sexual relationships between underage students and older men. She also alleged that some of the men involved are married or in long-term relationships and warned that infections are moving “between the young girls and their wives and girlfriends.” Rosan did not identify the school on-air.
Her remarks framed the situation as symptomatic of wider problems among youth in the territory, including increased promiscuity, substance use and alcohol consumption, which she said contribute to vulnerability. “The VI has a crisis with our young people,” she said, calling the territory’s social challenges “dire.” The commentator urged collective responsibility, saying parents, teachers, community members and institutions must act.
She criticised what she described as insufficient urgency from authorities and questioned whether agencies tasked with child welfare and social services are adequately resourced to intervene effectively. Rosan also raised concerns that economic hardship may be driving some parents to turn a blind eye to exploitative relationships for financial survival.
Public health and child-protection implications If confirmed, an outbreak of STDs in a school setting would be a public health concern requiring prompt, confidential testing, treatment and contact tracing, alongside education and preventive measures. Sexual relationships between adults and minors also raise potential criminal and child-protection issues that warrant investigation by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and social services.
What residents can expect and next steps Health and social services agencies, schools and police will be central to any official response. Residents concerned about exposure or seeking information should look to the Ministry of Health, the Department of Social Development and local clinics for testing and confidential advice.
Community leaders and parents are being urged to prioritise sexual health education, access to care, and stronger safeguarding for vulnerable young people. Rosan said the issue “is not something we can keep whispering about” and called on the wider society to confront the realities facing its youth.
As of publication, there has been no public confirmation of an outbreak from government authorities; the matter highlights ongoing debates about resources, prevention and protection in the BVI.
Primary source: BVI News