140 rafts destroyed
Hurricane Melissa delivers another blow to Rio Grande raftsmen
Published:Thursday | October 30, 2025 | 12:08 AMGareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer
Raft captains at the Rio Grande rafting attraction in Portland claim Hurricane Melissa swept away nearly 140 vessels, crippling their livelihood and leaving them in urgent need of financial assistance.
The Rio Grande overflowed its banks during the storm, sweeping away rafts tied inland with ropes. Despite efforts to secure them, the force of the floodwaters proved overwhelming.
The captains, many of whom have endured similar losses at least three times in the past seven years, say this latest blow is especially painful – and more uncertain.
“We have never gotten any help from TPDCo (the Tourism Product Development Company) at no time in the past,” said Maylan Reid, one of the affected raftsmen.
Reid emphasised the need for direct financial support to rebuild the bamboo rafts, noting that many of the men are unable to harvest the materials themselves.
“We waan money fi build back we raft dem weh get weh. Money we need, because nuff a di man dem caan cut di bamboo, so we have fi buy di bamboo,” he said. He added that while the Red Cross had previously offered assistance, the current destruction demands renewed support.
Veteran raft captain Walford Wallen, who has worked the river for over 40 years, also lost both of his rafts and suffered damage to his home.
“Mi lose mi two raft dem and mi house get damage. I have been a craft captain for more than 40 years. This is what I get money from. We need some money fi make back di raft dem, so we can get back on our feet,” Wallen told The Gleaner yesterday.
The captains say they are desperate to resume work, but without help, recovery seems impossible.
“If we nuh get help, there is no way we will be able to do our work,” Reid said. “So we are hoping that the authorities will lend some assistance, so that we can buy bamboo, buy wires, and pay somebody to make them. We did know say di hurricane a come, so we tie up the raft dem pon land with rope, far in, but di amount a rain weh fall Monday night and Tuesday, di river rise and wash dem away.”
Rio Grande rafting, operated by TPDCo, employs approximately 80 raft captains and runs from Berrydale in the Rio Grande Valley to Rafters Rest in St Margaret’s Bay.