PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
RIO GRANDE Rafting, Portland's premier attraction, has received a glimmer of hope from its owners with the pronouncement that raft captains are to receive a $300 pay increase, upon the arrival of each cruise vessel to Port Antonio.
Last Wednesday, the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) granted an increase for the more than 80 raftsmen contracted to Rio Grande Rafting which took effect on March 4. The raftsmen have been lobbying for the increase since the devastation caused by recent hurricanes, dating back to Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
And although the increase is only a marginal one, it could not have come at a better time as some raftsmen had threatened to follow other colleagues who had earlier abandoned the trade, and have since taken up new occupations due to the rapid decline in business at the rafting facility.
Front desk receptionist at Rio Grande rafting, Rosemarie Deans, said that the pay increase is an indication that TPDCo is trying to satisfy the requests made by the raftsmen, who have had some 'tormenting periods' since the passage of a number of hurricanes.
