Government of Jamaica
TPDCo moves to end illegal rafting on the White River
Kingston, Jamaica. March 30, 2023: The Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) after multiple attempts to end illegal rafting on the White River in St Ann has moved to terminate the issue. This comes after many consultations with offending parties and a myriad of complaints from visitors and stakeholders. Among the complaints are that of sexual harassment, raftsmen operating in a drunken state, other criminal activities, and a prolonged breach of the River Rafting Act.
Utilizing a “clear, hold, and reset” strategy, the TPDCo partnered with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in terminating the illegal activities. The operation also included closure notice signs being posted, advising the general public that the section of the White River under the bridge is closed to unlicenced activities by order of the River Rafting Authority which “regulates and controls river rafting in Jamaica.”
This has been a longstanding issue and the action comes after several consultation meetings with operators undertaking illegal activities where they were informed of the illegality of their operations and the intention of the authorities to have the activities terminated.
Other public bodies including the National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) and the St Ann Municipal Corporation have also served warning and enforcement notices on the illegal operators from as early as October 2022.
A final warning was issued by the St Ann Police who visited the site and requested that operators voluntarily remove their rafts by March 20, 2023, to no avail.