Police Wary of Reprisal in Rafter’s Killing as Rarely Used, Unannounced Security Measure in Place
OCHO RIOS, St Ann; Aug 10, 2026
A curfew is in effect in a section of White River near Ocho Rios, St Ann, after a murder involving a raft man near an attraction there.
Dead is 32-year-old Ramardo Hunter, rafter (or raft man) of Boscobel, St Mary.
He was killed on Wednesday, August 5, about 5 p.m. in an attack as he stood at the roadside, near the White River Rafting attraction.
Police imposed a curfew Friday, August 7, and extended it from Saturday to Monday evening, August 10, 2026. Operators of small informal businesses associated with rafting say they have taken a hit because of the curfew.
Observers and long-time residents of Ocho Rios say they have no recollection of a curfew ever being imposed in any community in or near the tourism resort.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the murder arose from a dispute over rafting rights at the White River Rafting venue that has attracted police and tourism officials’ intervention in recent months.
(Vessels along the White River near the main road overpass, between St Ann and St Mary)
Police said they had made no arrest in the case. However, intelligence suggests there could be reprisals for the killing.
The boundaries of the curfew are not known, although North Coast Times asked for them from the police’s official communication arm, the Constabulary Communications Network (CCN).
SHOOTING
However, an officer there told North Coast Times early Monday afternoon that if the curfew is extended further, they would issue a release with the usual details of boundaries and the duration of the security measure. CCN routinely issues releases of details of curfews before they are imposed or within hours of them coming into effect.
Reports in the shooting state that Hunter was standing with a group of men along the roadway near the ‘Welcome to White River’ sign. A man armed with a handgun came from the bushes and started firing. Hunter was hit in the left side and fell about 30 meters away from where he was shot.
The gunman then hopped onto a Yeng Yeng motorcycle, which was being driven by another man, and made good his escape in the Exchange area.
Hunter was pronounced dead at St Ann’s Bay Hospital.
