OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Commanding officer for St Ann Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell has issued a stern warning to anyone thinking of rafting illegally along the parish’s border with St Mary.

“I’m telling the persons who want to come in to do rafting at the White River that it is not available until the industry is properly regulated. We are working with the tourism industry as well as the rafting authority, councillor of the area and other entities to bring some regulation,” he said.

He was speaking at Thursday’s monthly sitting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation. His warning, he stressed, applies to individuals in and outside of the parish.

“Until those [steps] are properly sorted out, we are advising that absolutely no other person must come into the White River to start a new business as it relates to rafting,” SSP Powell added.

In an article published by the Jamaica Observer on April 26, the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) said they were aware of the emergence of illegal rafters at White River and several meetings had been held with the various players to have them desist. It also noted that it was not an enforcement agency but contact had been made with the police with a view to enforcing the relevant laws.

They were responding to concerns raised by owner of the legally registered White River Calypso Rafting and Tubing, Robert “Bobby” Marsh.

In the article, Marsh blasted TPDCo, the police, the municipal corporation and the tourism minister for failing to respond to his concerns. He warned that rafters who are unable to swim are putting their customers’ lives at risk.

“There have been near misses but, heaven forbid, if somebody dies or something bad happens. How will we respond as a nation?” he asked then.

The hope is that the efforts now being made by the police will put an end to this type of activity.

“There is a meeting coming up with a view to see how best we can regulate or stop what is happening at the White River,” SSP Powell said at Thursday’s meeting.