White River raftsmen vow to defend livelihoods after NEPA notice
Published:Thursday | November 10, 2022 | 3:29 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
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Several raftsmen who operate on the White River along the border of St Ann and St Mary have signalled their intention to resist what they perceive as efforts by state agencies to prevent them from continuing to make a living from rafting....
Several raftsmen who operate on the White River along the border of St Ann and St Mary have signalled their intention to resist what they perceive as efforts by state agencies to prevent them from continuing to make a living from rafting.
Representatives from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) last month served a cessation notice on Rafting on the White River Limited (RWR), the legally registered company that operates rafting on a section of the river, and warning notices on the raftsmen for operating without the requisite permit.
While the documents suggest that NEPA’s objective is to get the raftsmen to conform to regulations governing the sector, several believe it is a ploy to eventually remove them and give access to “di big man dem”.
Expressing fear for their survival should this happen, the men say they are prepared to defend their livelihoods.
“Dem think a Little Dunn’s River this? If wi cyaa shub no raft, ... every one a di tree dem go straight up di river a cut dung,” one young man said angrily.
“Wi nuh have nutten else fi do! Wi a mek a honest living. Dis a wi only bread! Wi a get a fight roun’ yah fi nutten at all, and dat fi stop,” another man said.
“Don’t ramp wid God. Mi a God pickney. If dem tek it weh, di river dry up. Nuh ramp wid God!” a third chimed in.
A promised response from NEPA regarding the recent operation, which was supported by the police, has not been received by The Gleaner.
Curtis Douglas, who registered Rafting on the White River (RWR) Limited in 2017 as a legal entity to carry out rafting tours on the river, said 50 persons are attached to his company and have been offering rafting service for years, several of them before the company was registered.
He told The Gleaner that he was making every effort to fall in line with government requirements.
“We’re willing to comply and pay whatever taxes, fees with NEPA, anybody, insurance. It’s no problem, but give us a chance to do it. Just don’t come and tell us that we can’t do it. Give us a chance,” Douglas said in an interview with The Gleaner.
Douglas has retained attorney-at-law Lance Rose to assist the entity in negotiating the turbulence.
Rose declined to comment on the raftsmen’s claims regarding dislocation by the Government, pointing instead to what NEPA is stipulating.
“The rafting company (RWR) is a legally constituted company registered at the Companies Office of Jamaica under the Companies Act. NEPA is saying they are to apply for the permit. Once they get the permit, everybody else can benefit as an employee of the company or as a sublicensee,” Rose said.
The permit would allow RWR to operate under the eco and nature tourism banner.
The state agency served RWR with a cessation order on October 25, effective October 26. Rose wrote to NEPA seeking an extension to allow his client time to comply and was given until November 30.
The process is in motion.
At the same exercise, dozens of rafters were served with site warning notices, which claimed breaches of the Natural Resource Conservation Authority Act as they were operating without an environmental permit.
Rose reiterated that while individual raftsmen would not be granted environmental permits. They would be allowed to operate under RWR’s permit once it has been approved.
NEPA’s permit application checklist to operate an eco and nature tourism business includes an application fee of $85,000 and proof of ownership of land to include copy of title, or a probate will, or a lease agreement, among other things.
Raftsmen get help
Meanwhile, the raftsmen are getting some help from a tour operator who has been bringing clients to the attraction for several years.
The man, who gave his name only as Dave, said that while he agrees that the operation should be fully regulated and activities carried out in accordance with the law, the small operators should not be displaced.
“So I’m just asking them (authorities) kindly if they could get us regulated or assist us in doing so, for personally, I would sponsor some of the guys here so they could get the documentation needed or the proper training,” Dave said.
Another driver, Denzel from Maxi Tours, said he had been taking visitors to White River Rafting for over five years as he seeks to support the “local” entity. He is calling on the Government to support the young men.
“Put things in place for them and have them cooperate and make themselves better persons in our country,” he suggested.
Visitors to the attraction have found the experience satisfying, and many have returned, one raftsman pointed out.
JoJo, a young woman from Florida in the United States, who was visiting Jamaica for the first time, experienced rafting at the White River on Wednesday and gave it a thumbs-up.
“It was great, amazing!” she told The Gleaner. “They talked nice, the music is nice, the vibe is amazing Everything’s great! I like it!” she added, while confirming that she would “definitely” be coming back to Jamaica.