Dave Holloway asks for the cooperation of the people of Aruba to help with tips and information
Solo di Pueblo
10/22/2005

STA. CRUZ – Mr. Dave Holloway, father of Natalee Holloway, is in Aruba doing what he has always come here to do, to look for his daughter who disappeared May 30, 2005 in Aruba. Mr. Holloway has always spoken well of Aruba, of the contact he has had with the Police, Prosecution and others. After some people in Alabama asked for a boycott against Aruba, Dave Holloway and his wife Holly [s/b Robin] went on American television to categorically counteract the boycott petition.

Mr. Holloway only has praise for the local authorities and is happy that Commissioner Dompig is actively involved with the investigation whose goal is to resolve the case as soon as possible. Mr. Holloway has constant contact with the Strategic Communications Task Force of Aruba to create a close communication and cooperation. Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) and Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA) wants to make an urgent appeal to anybody who has information that can help the Natalee Holloway case, to call the following phone number: 582-3777.

[translated by Getagrip]

According to Commissioner Dompig
This is not the perfect crime and he regrets that Beth Twitty isn’t coming for questioning
Solo di Pueblo
10/21/2005

STA. CRUZ – Police Commissioner Dompig and the Coast Guard chief made a big petition for the community to give police tips in regards to the case of Natalee Holloway. They asked for more people to call if they haven’t called before to give tips. According to Dompig, the investigation of the case hasn’t stopped but because the American media attention is no longer like a circus it seems like the investigation has ceased. Now that the team has made their investigation the focus is narrower. They have different leads and tips on which they are working. They have a pair of the pieces of the puzzle missing and Dompig is asking to forget the reward and think of their family, their kids and the name of Aruba, if anyone has any information to come forward to the police.

Commissioner Dompig doesn’t believe in the perfect crime, that if there is one or more persons who knows something, they can help police with this case. Dompig asked that they come forward and that the phone number of the Noord Police station is 587-0009 ext, 101. They can call another police station, but the number given is that of the team working on the Natalee Holloway case. Dompig assures that if someone wants to remain anonymous, this is also possible. There isn’t now the same amount of police working on the case as before. The tranquility was necessary, now more tips are needed to solve the puzzle,

They have a part of the information that was missing before and because some believe that the tips they have are not important, perhaps this is the piece that is missing. Dompig asks for Natalee’s mom to be available for more questioning, but just now, the mother decided that she will not come back to Aruba. Dompig hopes that the mother didn’t get scared because she heard that police wants her to give more declarations to the Aruban police and that for this reason she doesn’t want to come back. According to Dompig he says that the declarations of the mother are very important and that the family is a crucial part to investigate in any case. The FBI is cooperating with the Aruban authorities.

[translated by Getagrip]

Natalee Case
Underwater search with special camera
DIARIO Aruba
10/21/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): It is almost 5 months since the Alabama student, Natalee Holloway, went missing in Aruba.

However, the investigation has not stopped. Although the 3 principal suspects were set free, the investigation continues.

A special team from DIARIO that is also conducting a separate investigation, is still active and is using all available avenues to locate Natalee.

This [search] took a new turn, Thursday morning, when this group went out with an underwater camera, which was sent here especially by an American company.

This special camera is attached at the back of a boat. The camera is similar to a miniature submarine, which has special accessories to maintain a correct balance under the water.

On board the boat, a special monitor is connected to an image recorder, which records everything that the camera captures underwater. Apart from this, it also gives information as to the geographical location, using GPS navigation.

With the apparatus dragging behind a boat, they will look in the area around the Fisherman’s Huts. However the sea did not cooperate Thursday.

The DIARIO team saw that the waters were very rough, and despite the special equipment, it was difficult to keep the camera steady.

That is why today Friday, the DIARIO team will go to the sea again to check with this special camera. An American team is lending assistance to the operation, and to the logistics of the search.

Thursday it was noted that there was a bit more slack missing for the camera to go further down, but today, everything is set beforehand so that it goes better [than yesterday].

[translated by Getagrip]

Cruise Ship tourist protests in front of Courthouse
DIARIO Aruba
10/20/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): An American tourist who arrived Wednesday to our island on board the cruise ship “Volendam” of the Holland America Line, came determined to hold a protest in front of the courthouse.

Dressed in a t-shirt that says in the front: “Give Natalee Justice” and in the back “No Body ≠ No Crime”, the tourist expressed her opinion about Natalee’s case in silence.

Read in our edition from today what motivated Mrs. Maggie to take this type of action.

[translated by Getagrip]

Lawsuit Kalpoe against Skeeters too expensive
Amigoe.com
10/20/2005

ARUBA – “My client has limited means and cannot just institute a lawsuit in the United States”, said lawyer Rudi Oomen about the rumours that his client Deepak Kalpoe will take legal proceedings against Jamie Skeeters in the States. Skeeters is the man that recorded a conversation with Kalpoe and sold it to Dr. Phil’s TV-show.

Oomen indicated that if there are possibilities to bring charges against Skeeters without it costing too much money, they will definitely consider it. “I’m still looking for those possibilities.” Kalpoe would have said on the tape that all the three boys had sex with Holloway. Therefore, on the Internet-sites on the Holloway-case and in the American TV-shows, the tape is being considered as evident of guilt of Joran van der Sloot, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe. According to Oomen, Kalpoe had never said this. “Everybody can hear that tape was put together with cutting and pasting.”

The Public Prosecutor (OM) would like to get hold of the tape in order to investigate its authenticity. But in exchange for this, an OM agent has to appear in the TV-show of Dr. Phil. Oomen: “I have advised the OM to take the official course and submit a legal assistance request..” Oomen says that also his client wishes the tape to be investigated, because Kalpoe is positive that the tape was tempered with. Skeeters had posed as somebody that wants to help Kalpoe in the Internet-café where he works. There conversation was secretly taped and months later broadcasted in Dr. Phil’s TV-show.
Kalpoe wants some peace and quiet at this moment. Kalpoe could pick up his belongings, including his car today. He doesn’t understand why the OM had kept these for so long. It took Oomen to threat the OM with a lawsuit for them to finally release the car.

Holloway-case presented to Pechtold
Amigoe.com
10/18/2005

ARUBA – The committee Concerned Citizens of Aruba has called in the minister of Governmental Renewal and Kingdom Relations, Alexander Pechtold. The group would like the minister to do something with the negative publicity on the American TV, resulting from the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

The group is very concerned about the constant stream of negative news of the American media. “Every day, the American media is shamelessly questioning our Dutch judicial system, while they do not have relevant information on this.”

Especially with the call for boycotting Aruba as vacation destination by Dr. Phil and the Twitty family, they are trying to influence our court procedure. As much as 270 viewers watch Dr. Phil’s TV program. The Concerned Citizens say that Aruba and her citizens have done everything to find the missing girl. Aruba has spent a lot of money and effort, but no trace of the girl. All it led to is that Aruba is terrorized and is literally trampled.

The Concerned Citizens are of the opinion that Aruba is powerless to do anything about this overwhelming conspiracy. They make an urgent appeal to Pechtold to use the legal channels and stop the incorrect and negative publicity in the American media and the many talk shows and the call for boycott against Aruba.

Holland wants to see another Minister of Justice
DIARIO Aruba
10/19/2005


ORANJESTAD (AAN) - Information is circulating from the political core of Holland that shows that the Dutch government wants to see another face at the head of the Ministry of Justice of Aruba. This is also what the Dutch minister Pechtold, who was recently visiting Aruba, let be known to the government of Aruba.

During the last 4 years of government there were various cases of confrontation between Aruba’s justice minister with Dutch government mandataries. There were very strong letters sent from the justice minister of Aruba and his principal advisor to the Dutch government and there were also very strong expressions from the part of the justice minister against the Dutch government.

The results of the election put the same MEP government to sit and govern for the following period and in turn, the Dutch government has put pressure and shown the government of Aruba, via Prime Minister Nel Oduber, that the Dutch government wants to see another face as minister of justice. While formator Nilo Swaen has everybody busy with meetings with unions to hear from unions what the government knows full well for some time, that in reality the government knocked heads to please the same people from the party and also has taken into account that Holland wants to see certain changes in the governing of Aruba.

[translated by Getagrip]

Related to the Natalee Holloway case
Tourism has practically not declined
however, Americans want information on the Holloway case, when coming across people from Aruba
DIARIO Aruba
10/19/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): During the AHATA press conference, DIARIO asked about the latest developments in regards to the issue of the Aruba boycott Beth Twitty asked for.

According to the AHATA CEO, who also forms part of the Strategic Communications Task Force, there are rumours circulating that Beth Twitty will soon come back to Aruba, however it is his understanding that for the time being, she is not coming back.

According to Pesquera, the media attention is now sporadic. DIARIO asked Pesquera what are his thoughts about the possibility that she will come back to Aruba soon.

According to AHATA’s CEO, it will be good for the people of Aruba to do what they have always done, which is to treat all people with respect and remain a people of warmth, which we are known to be.

DIARIO asked Jeff Lesker how he feels with the effects until now, in regards to American tourists, especially those who have never come to Aruba.

According to Lesker, we cannot forget that the mother is still suffering due to her daughter being still missing.

He continued to say that although he respects Beth Twitty’s opinion, that is perhaps not correct, but has to be above all be respected. However, Lesker showed that when speaking of a boycott, when this normally takes place, is when a country for example produces nuclear arms or something along these lines.

According to Lester, it is important for the correct information about the aspects of the case to reach the mother, so that she doesn’t use incorrect information in the future, and in so doing shine a negative light on Aruba.

Lesker continues to say that either Beth Twitty likes to use incorrect information (which according to Lesker he doesn’t believe to be the case), or the mother has much incorrect information that she has found.

With regards to the opinion of potential tourists, Lesker says that now that they are promoting Aruba out of the country, the first thing that Americans are asking if they know you are from Aruba, is for information about the case, to get a more clear perspective of what has happened and not happened.

Especially seeing that there are many people who saw the Dr. Phil program, Lesker explains that if, that he feels that things are changing in a positive manner for us, in what relates to the Natalee Holloway case, because people are starting to get tired of the case where there are no new developments ahead.

The press asked Jorge Pesquera if people of the Task Force or others from Aruba succeeded in speaking to Dr. Phil, however Pesquera explains that they tried to get in touch with a Dr. Phil producer to find out if there’s going to be a 2nd part to the case of Natalee Holloway, to in this way also give their view on the program and if there is a possibility see the other side of the coin.

With regards to taking legal steps against the mother or Dr. Phil, Pesquera explains that experts indicated that this would not be a good idea. According to AHATA’s president, Jeff Lesker, a good idea to deal with the issue is to first to deal with tourism.

He explains that now that things are slow with tourism, a lot of people believe that at this time, it isn’t good to engage in marketing projects. According to Lesker it is just at this time that it will be good to have a good marketing plan in place.

Lesker explains that Aruba is now working hard to promote the island, in order to be in solid standing. He explains that perhaps tourism is a little down when compared to last year, however last year was a record one.

According to AHATA’s president, ATA, under the guidance of the government, is also focusing on this and is hard at work on ‘Marketing’, especially seeing that it has a tourism budget of 40 million, compared with the 3 million AHATA has for the same.

[translated by Getagrip]

Kalpoe brothers get their passports back
DIARIO Aruba
10/19/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): The Public Ministry [prosecution’s office] recently gave back the Kalpoe brothers their passports. All material previously confiscated during the Hooiberg search was given back.

One of the belongings in question was the passport of the youngsters Deepak, as well as Satish Kalpoe. Their lawyer confirmed this to DIARIO.

This means that the Kalpoe brothers have their legal documents back to travel. It is doubtful that they can do this, since the judge clearly indicated that they cannot leave Aruba.

In the meantime, Tuesday afternoon a person insisted that they saw Joran van der Sloot back in Aruba. Some people saw Joran with his mother in a fast food restaurant.

However, there was no additional confirmation about this, or if it’s true that the 18 year old has returned. It is a bit illogical, because why would he return to Aruba if he’s going to school? An analyst indicated that people perhaps mistook his younger brother for him.

[translated by Getagrip]

During meeting with ATIA and CofC
President Chavez is also a preoccupation of Minister Pechtold of Holland
Solo di Pueblo
10/19/2005

STA. CRUZ – During a meeting with Minister Pechtold, representatives of ATIA [Aruba Trade & Industry Association] and the Chamber of Commerce succeeded in speaking about different topics, among others the financial situation of Aruba, which Minister Pechtold is well aware of and also preoccupied about. The case of Natalee Holloway was also a topic of discussion and he promised that he will help Aruba in some aspect.

But the issue of Venezuela was a preoccupation for ATIA, especially now that President Chavez is looking for nuclear technology from Argentina, knowing full well that the US is against this and ATIA’s preoccupation is that if American feels it has to act in a military fashion, surely Aruba will feel the effects. Another thing is that Chavez has mentioned that he considers Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao part of the Venezuelan territory, as far as he’s concerned.

They were very satisfied about the conversation with Minister Pechtold in regards to both instances.

[translated by Getagrip]

Quiet visit Pechtold
Amigoe
10/14/2005

ARUBA – The biggest part of the conversations of the Dutch Kingdom Relations-minister, Alexander Pechtold, was about the formation of the new government, but he didn’t want to interfere as regards content. He only wanted to exchange thoughts in a relaxed atmosphere.

He exchanged thought about the financial deficit of the government with Prime Minister Nelson Oduber. He is curious about how the next government is going to tackle these problems. As part of this, Pechtold also met with the chairmen of the Chamber of Commerce and ATIA, Edwin Roos and Serge Mansur respectively. According to both chairmen, the conversations were productive but didn’t comment on the contents. Also the new opposition members Rudy Lampe (RED) and Monica Arends-Kock (MPA) were on Pechtold’s list of appointments. He has already talked with Mike Eman (AVP) in the Netherlands. Lampe and Arends-Kock informed Pechtold about their political vision and what they are going to do as parliamentarians. Pechtold has returned to the Netherlands by now.

Government has its hand over Michael Posner’s head? Notorious Chicago figure active in Aruba casino
DIARIO Aruba
10/17/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Some time ago DIARIO found information regarding the manager of the Holiday Inn’s Excelsior Casino and people have been calling out to ask how a figure with a criminal past of such an extent can be active in the casino industry of Aruba.

His name? Michael Posner, owner (or one of the owners) of the Brickel Hotel situated in front of the big hotels in Malmok. In the past he was arrested in the state of Illinois for violation of the Ricco Act (racketeering) and because he was also involved in the world of prostitution.

He was condemned to 10 years in prison, but apparently he served 8 out of the 10 years. He appealed his case and lost the appeal! After he was released he was on parole for 5 years. His name is also mentioned as an associate of a notorious family.

DIARIO knows that the government is at the height of such people, and asks how he can be active in the casino industry of Aruba. How did he find a permit to work in this branch with the background that he has? How has the Minister of Justice still not taken action against him? Now that his criminal past is known, what is the government waiting for to take him out of Aruba?

During the [election] campaign which recently came to an end, many comments and rumours were circulating regarding contributions to certain politicians, including those in the [current] government. DIARIO hopes that the issue of campaign moneys remain a rumour, because if true, then there are more politicians for sale than is [already] apparent.

The presence of Michael Posner in the Aruba casino industry, with the criminal past that he has, does not speak well of the judicial control system, nor that of National Security, nor of those in charge to check the background of those who work in the tourism industry of Aruba.

This is the damage that one person with such a bad reputation, who was incarcerated during 8 years, who is associated with a notorious family in America, can cause to the tourism of Aruba.

[translated by Getagrip]