Portland raftsmen get help from TPDCo

Rio Grande raftsmen in Portland have received monetary assistance from the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) to help replace their rafts which were destroyed in last months heavy rains.

Sixty-eight raft-captains were dealt a crippling-blow during the heavy rains when the Rio Grande overflowed its banks and destroyed more than 70 bamboo rafts.

Yesterday, the raft-captains were each handed cheques totalling $7,500 to help restore their vessels.

West Portland MP Daryl Vaz says the privately funded West Portland Development Fund contributed $2,500 to each raftsman.

The ticketing office and raft-stand at Berrydale in the Rio Grande valley, which was also flooded has since been restored.