MEP internally divided on minister positions
Amigoe
10/28/2005
ARUBA – Yesterday evening, the party in office MEP met on the distribution of minister positions in the new cabinet. The meeting was tumultuous and the persons present left without a decision. The meeting continued today, after the last Parliament meeting, before the new parliament takes office.
Actually, the MEP wanted to present the new ministers today, so that they do not have to be sworn in as Members of Parliament. They can then start working right away.
It appears to be difficult for Nelson Oduber to establish a new council of ministers. It seems that the current Justice-minister Rudy Croes and his colleague-minister Ramon Lee of Labour, Culture, and Sport do not get what they want. The two left the meeting prematurely. They didn’t want to comment on their premature departure.
[English language original text]
10.29.2005
Party rejects Nelson Oduber’s proponed Cabinet
New parliament members sworn in yesterday
A.M. Digital
10/29/2005
After the party (MEP) gave exclusive authorization the Prime Minister Oduber to form a new Council of Ministers (Cabinet), Oduber had a tough time to convince his party colleagues but finally he presented his proposed Cabinet to the party council. His first decision was to reduce the number of Ministries in Aruba from 8 to 7, and he furthermore proposed a radical change in portfolios for each Minister.
• Oduber is to remain on the Prime Minister’s seat and assume the responsibility for General Affairs;
• The present Minister of Education is to assume the position of Minister Plenipotentiary in Holland;
• The new proposed Minister of Education is ing. Edwin Jacobs who was the leader of the MEP fraction in Parliament;
• Rudy Croes will have to relinquish the Ministry of Justice and assume responsibility for Tourism and Utilities;
• The new Minister of Justice is to be Candelario “Booshi” Wever who will also have the responsibility for Public Health and Environment;
• Minister Nilo Swaen will remain as Minister of Finance but relinquish Economic Affairs;
• Minister Marisol Lopez-Tromp is to remain with the portfolio of Infrastructure and relinquish Social Affairs to get Aruba Lotto instead;
• Minister Edison Briesen is to assume responsibility for the portfolios of Economic Affairs, Transport, and Social Affairs.
Related to above we understand that the party council rejected the Prime Minister’s proposal, meaning that a new Council of Ministers could not be sworn in to assume Government responsibility simultaneously with the new Parliament.
An attempt by Parliament President Marlon Werleman to convince the Governor to postpone the swearing in of new Parliament members to Monday failed, when Governor Refunjol insisted that new Parliament members must have been sworn in not later than yesterday at 5:00 p.m. The new Parliament will officially take seat tomorrow, October 30, as prescribed by law.
Since MEP did not make a decision on the structure of the new Council of Ministers, the first 11 candidates on the MEP list, which includes most of the present Ministers, were sworn in as Parliament members. This situation, where a Minister is also Member of Parliament, may last for a maximum of three months when those involved (or the party) will have to decide on their position.
While this happened the sitting Cabinet, as outgoing cabinet, may not take any new decisions but only handle current affairs. In the meantime MEP has some additional time to decide on the formation of a new Council of Ministers for Aruba.
[English language original text]
New parliament members sworn in yesterday
A.M. Digital
10/29/2005
After the party (MEP) gave exclusive authorization the Prime Minister Oduber to form a new Council of Ministers (Cabinet), Oduber had a tough time to convince his party colleagues but finally he presented his proposed Cabinet to the party council. His first decision was to reduce the number of Ministries in Aruba from 8 to 7, and he furthermore proposed a radical change in portfolios for each Minister.
• Oduber is to remain on the Prime Minister’s seat and assume the responsibility for General Affairs;
• The present Minister of Education is to assume the position of Minister Plenipotentiary in Holland;
• The new proposed Minister of Education is ing. Edwin Jacobs who was the leader of the MEP fraction in Parliament;
• Rudy Croes will have to relinquish the Ministry of Justice and assume responsibility for Tourism and Utilities;
• The new Minister of Justice is to be Candelario “Booshi” Wever who will also have the responsibility for Public Health and Environment;
• Minister Nilo Swaen will remain as Minister of Finance but relinquish Economic Affairs;
• Minister Marisol Lopez-Tromp is to remain with the portfolio of Infrastructure and relinquish Social Affairs to get Aruba Lotto instead;
• Minister Edison Briesen is to assume responsibility for the portfolios of Economic Affairs, Transport, and Social Affairs.
Related to above we understand that the party council rejected the Prime Minister’s proposal, meaning that a new Council of Ministers could not be sworn in to assume Government responsibility simultaneously with the new Parliament.
An attempt by Parliament President Marlon Werleman to convince the Governor to postpone the swearing in of new Parliament members to Monday failed, when Governor Refunjol insisted that new Parliament members must have been sworn in not later than yesterday at 5:00 p.m. The new Parliament will officially take seat tomorrow, October 30, as prescribed by law.
Since MEP did not make a decision on the structure of the new Council of Ministers, the first 11 candidates on the MEP list, which includes most of the present Ministers, were sworn in as Parliament members. This situation, where a Minister is also Member of Parliament, may last for a maximum of three months when those involved (or the party) will have to decide on their position.
While this happened the sitting Cabinet, as outgoing cabinet, may not take any new decisions but only handle current affairs. In the meantime MEP has some additional time to decide on the formation of a new Council of Ministers for Aruba.
[English language original text]
10.28.2005
Although the direction of the investigation is changed
Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot remain as suspects
A.M. Digital
10/28/2005
The three young boys, the Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot remain as suspects in the Natalee Holloway disappearance case, according to police Commissioner Dompig. The change of direction by the Investigating Team does not free the three from all guilt.
In fact, according to their own declaration, they were the last to see and to be with Natalee in their car. They also declared to have dropped Natalee at the beach near Fiaherman’s Hut. According to Dompig they must know more.
So far they have denied to have murdered Natalee but fact is that they dropped at the site mentioned. They do not know what happened after that and that is why it is important for the Investigating Team to verify their story.
The Commissioner will try to take a couple of shots of the front of Joran van der Sloot’s residence and then request the people to think who could have seen a grey Honda Civic there around 1:40 a.m. If anybody saw this car parked there it is very important to call the Noord Police Precinct. Dompig still regrets that the Judge of Instruction ordered the release of the trio. The Investigating Team looks at the case from a different angle and there was enough evidence to keep them incarcerated for certain violations. The Judge of Instruction made a decision and we have to live with that, but that does not mean that the case is closed. The Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot continue to be the main focus of the Investigating Team. It is not possible to say how long the case will continue. As long as there are questions without an answer the case cannot be closed, according to Commissioner Dompig.
[English language original text]
Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot remain as suspects
A.M. Digital
10/28/2005
The three young boys, the Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot remain as suspects in the Natalee Holloway disappearance case, according to police Commissioner Dompig. The change of direction by the Investigating Team does not free the three from all guilt.
In fact, according to their own declaration, they were the last to see and to be with Natalee in their car. They also declared to have dropped Natalee at the beach near Fiaherman’s Hut. According to Dompig they must know more.
So far they have denied to have murdered Natalee but fact is that they dropped at the site mentioned. They do not know what happened after that and that is why it is important for the Investigating Team to verify their story.
The Commissioner will try to take a couple of shots of the front of Joran van der Sloot’s residence and then request the people to think who could have seen a grey Honda Civic there around 1:40 a.m. If anybody saw this car parked there it is very important to call the Noord Police Precinct. Dompig still regrets that the Judge of Instruction ordered the release of the trio. The Investigating Team looks at the case from a different angle and there was enough evidence to keep them incarcerated for certain violations. The Judge of Instruction made a decision and we have to live with that, but that does not mean that the case is closed. The Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot continue to be the main focus of the Investigating Team. It is not possible to say how long the case will continue. As long as there are questions without an answer the case cannot be closed, according to Commissioner Dompig.
[English language original text]
Fewer airline passengers to Aruba in the third quarter of 2005
A.M. Digital
10/28/2005
Although the number of passengers that go through Queen Beatrix International Airport are down this third quarter, -3.5% compared to the same quarter last year, aircraft movements are up 6.2%.
Less passengers from the USA (including Puerto Rico) caused the passenger numbers to have decreased.
A number of factors contributed to the decrease: the unusually high number of hurricanes affecting the US, the high price of oil that affects the cost of jet fuel and the negative media publicity in the US regarding the Holloway case. Contributing to the negative growth was also the Antillean operation; in 2004 Dutch Caribbean Airlines (DCA) was still operating. Only a small part of DCA’s regional network has been taken over by BonairExpress, a smaller airline that doesn’t have the same passenger capacity as DCA.
Our second largest tourist market, Latin America showed a significant growth, however, of 12.7%.
The higher number of aircraft movements is primarily due to more regional flights with relatively small aircraft.
General Aviation shows an increase of 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year; the presence of general aviation operator Universal Aviation Aruba as of April of this year is contributing to this considerable increase.
[English language original text]
A.M. Digital
10/28/2005
Although the number of passengers that go through Queen Beatrix International Airport are down this third quarter, -3.5% compared to the same quarter last year, aircraft movements are up 6.2%.
Less passengers from the USA (including Puerto Rico) caused the passenger numbers to have decreased.
A number of factors contributed to the decrease: the unusually high number of hurricanes affecting the US, the high price of oil that affects the cost of jet fuel and the negative media publicity in the US regarding the Holloway case. Contributing to the negative growth was also the Antillean operation; in 2004 Dutch Caribbean Airlines (DCA) was still operating. Only a small part of DCA’s regional network has been taken over by BonairExpress, a smaller airline that doesn’t have the same passenger capacity as DCA.
Our second largest tourist market, Latin America showed a significant growth, however, of 12.7%.
The higher number of aircraft movements is primarily due to more regional flights with relatively small aircraft.
General Aviation shows an increase of 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year; the presence of general aviation operator Universal Aviation Aruba as of April of this year is contributing to this considerable increase.
[English language original text]
10.27.2005
The focus is now also in the US
Beth Twitty is part of the investigation and owes Aruba some explanations
According to Commissioner Dompig
A.M. Digital
10/26/2005
Police Commissioner Gerold Dompig is now head of the Investigating Team in the Natalee Holloway case. The team never stopped the investigation but now that he joined the team, they are revisiting all documents, analyzing all declarations and take a closer look into all available material.
Base on that they noticed that there are still some gaps in the investigation and started to close them. As such, according to Dompig, a solution of the case is possible. There are [still] suspects in the case and their release does not mean that they are free of persecution. Dompig also indicated that the Investigating Team is still receiving calls related to the case.
Another issue is that so far the investigation has been focused in Aruba. Dompig said that now he and the team have redirected the focus to also include the US, because the group of students came from the US to party in Aruba and have a good time and it cannot be that they do not know anything about what happened.
For the police commissioner the information that the investigating team received from the FBI does not represent much. Therefore Dompig will make the same appeal on the Alabama teens as he did in Aruba: to call 011 297 587 0009 ext 101 to give any information that they may have.
We all can remember that, in the days of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, many parents of those students advised them to remain silent and not to say anything to the press. The commissioner is now asking those students to break their silence. It cannot be that the focus is only on Aruba while a large group of students where with Natalee for many days and partied together. Now they have to come forward and say what they know. This is also valid for the chaperones and for Beth Twitty, Natalee’s mother.
This mother can tell us about her last contact with her daughter. Unfortunately she continues to bash Aruba out there, and does not want to return to help with the investigation. On the other hand the investigating team has good contacts with the father, Dave Holloway, who is helping with the investigation.
Beth Twitty keeps in contact with Commissioner Dompig through her lawyer in Aruba and sometimes by means of one of the talk shows in the US. Dompig however said that he will no more appear on any talk show with the mother, because Beth Twitty has been invited to come to Aruba to make declarations again, but she is not cooperating.
This is important because in the US Beth Twitty said that the police in Aruba changed her declaration and if this is the case the police is now giving her the opportunity to set the records straight by declaring again. Besides that the Investigating Team has some questions to ask Beth Twitty about her relation with her daughter Natalee.
[English language original text]
Beth Twitty is part of the investigation and owes Aruba some explanations
According to Commissioner Dompig
A.M. Digital
10/26/2005
Police Commissioner Gerold Dompig is now head of the Investigating Team in the Natalee Holloway case. The team never stopped the investigation but now that he joined the team, they are revisiting all documents, analyzing all declarations and take a closer look into all available material.
Base on that they noticed that there are still some gaps in the investigation and started to close them. As such, according to Dompig, a solution of the case is possible. There are [still] suspects in the case and their release does not mean that they are free of persecution. Dompig also indicated that the Investigating Team is still receiving calls related to the case.
Another issue is that so far the investigation has been focused in Aruba. Dompig said that now he and the team have redirected the focus to also include the US, because the group of students came from the US to party in Aruba and have a good time and it cannot be that they do not know anything about what happened.
For the police commissioner the information that the investigating team received from the FBI does not represent much. Therefore Dompig will make the same appeal on the Alabama teens as he did in Aruba: to call 011 297 587 0009 ext 101 to give any information that they may have.
We all can remember that, in the days of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, many parents of those students advised them to remain silent and not to say anything to the press. The commissioner is now asking those students to break their silence. It cannot be that the focus is only on Aruba while a large group of students where with Natalee for many days and partied together. Now they have to come forward and say what they know. This is also valid for the chaperones and for Beth Twitty, Natalee’s mother.
This mother can tell us about her last contact with her daughter. Unfortunately she continues to bash Aruba out there, and does not want to return to help with the investigation. On the other hand the investigating team has good contacts with the father, Dave Holloway, who is helping with the investigation.
Beth Twitty keeps in contact with Commissioner Dompig through her lawyer in Aruba and sometimes by means of one of the talk shows in the US. Dompig however said that he will no more appear on any talk show with the mother, because Beth Twitty has been invited to come to Aruba to make declarations again, but she is not cooperating.
This is important because in the US Beth Twitty said that the police in Aruba changed her declaration and if this is the case the police is now giving her the opportunity to set the records straight by declaring again. Besides that the Investigating Team has some questions to ask Beth Twitty about her relation with her daughter Natalee.
[English language original text]
Tim Miller of EquuSearch
If nothing is found they will return to the US
A.M. Digital
10/26/2005
Tim Miller, who is in Aruba again with this EquuSearch Team in connection with the Natalee Holloway case and is organizing a third search effort for the American teen.
Considering the information that they have, Miller said that the possibility exists that Natalee’s body was dumped into the ocean. In view thereof they brought equipment from the only forensic crime scene divers in the US. He also said that they are working on bringing equipment that can be used at a depth of 1000 feet as the equipment that they presently have only reach 550 feet.They intend to search in deep waters and see what they can find there. There are 8 EquuSearch members in Aruba and 3 more are on their way. Including Tim, there are a dozen EquuSearch members working closely with local authorities to try and close the case.
Miller said furthermore that all indications are that Natalee is not alive and that they wish to do their utmost to locate her and bring her back home so that the family will know what happened and rest.
He emphasized that EquuSearch is not involved in the investigation; they are simply a search team. Any information on locations to be searched is welcome.
They are presently searching in the ocean north of Aruba by the Fisherman’s Huts and indications are that they must be at a distance of 3 to 5 miles at a depth of 700 to 800 feet. They are covering about 1 square mile per day which appears to be slow, reason why they are bringing in another unit to double their capacity.
[English language original text]
If nothing is found they will return to the US
A.M. Digital
10/26/2005
Tim Miller, who is in Aruba again with this EquuSearch Team in connection with the Natalee Holloway case and is organizing a third search effort for the American teen.
Considering the information that they have, Miller said that the possibility exists that Natalee’s body was dumped into the ocean. In view thereof they brought equipment from the only forensic crime scene divers in the US. He also said that they are working on bringing equipment that can be used at a depth of 1000 feet as the equipment that they presently have only reach 550 feet.They intend to search in deep waters and see what they can find there. There are 8 EquuSearch members in Aruba and 3 more are on their way. Including Tim, there are a dozen EquuSearch members working closely with local authorities to try and close the case.
Miller said furthermore that all indications are that Natalee is not alive and that they wish to do their utmost to locate her and bring her back home so that the family will know what happened and rest.
He emphasized that EquuSearch is not involved in the investigation; they are simply a search team. Any information on locations to be searched is welcome.
They are presently searching in the ocean north of Aruba by the Fisherman’s Huts and indications are that they must be at a distance of 3 to 5 miles at a depth of 700 to 800 feet. They are covering about 1 square mile per day which appears to be slow, reason why they are bringing in another unit to double their capacity.
[English language original text]
Dave’s hope is to find her alive
Although everything else indicates otherwise
A.M. Digital
10/26/2005
Dave Holloway, the father of Natalee Holloway, is back in Aruba and with him so is the Texas EquuSearch team. He said that they are searching in the ocean to try and find Natalee however; he hopes that somebody will come forward with important information to help solve the case of his daughter.
When asked how long he will stay he replied that they were planning on leaving last Friday but, based on information received from Commissioner Dompig, he decided to extend his stay to include this week.
Dave Holloway also said that, although they have hopes to find Natalee alive the police, who are more experienced in these cases, say that they should look for a body, and that is what they are doing.
[English language original text]
Although everything else indicates otherwise
A.M. Digital
10/26/2005
Dave Holloway, the father of Natalee Holloway, is back in Aruba and with him so is the Texas EquuSearch team. He said that they are searching in the ocean to try and find Natalee however; he hopes that somebody will come forward with important information to help solve the case of his daughter.
When asked how long he will stay he replied that they were planning on leaving last Friday but, based on information received from Commissioner Dompig, he decided to extend his stay to include this week.
Dave Holloway also said that, although they have hopes to find Natalee alive the police, who are more experienced in these cases, say that they should look for a body, and that is what they are doing.
[English language original text]
Natalee Holloway investigation remains focused on the original suspects, according to commissioner Dompig
DIARIO Aruba
10/26/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): During an interview, DIARIO asked Dompig if the investigation on the case of Natalee Holloway remains in the direction of the original suspects, Joran van der Sloot, Satish Kalpoe and Deepak Kalpoe.
The commissioner explains that it is true that that is the case, because everything shows that they have to know more, given that Natalee went with them in the car. However, this does not exclude other suspects in this case.
DIARIO asked Dompig how the story turned out where one or more of the suspects said during an interrogation that Natalee was perhaps killed.
According to the commissioner it turned out that they don’t know anything of this, and that they only know that they left her on the beach.
He continues to say that it is important to verify their version, where he explains that they have to prove that they went in front of Joran van der Sloot’s house, so people in the community think that they have seen the gray Honda Civic around 1:40 am.
If there are people who saw the car parked at the house at that time, it is very important that they get in touch with police.
DIARIO asked the commissioner about the verbal declarations made to police, where one of the suspects declared that he believes that one of the other suspects killed Natalee and if something is being done with this.
According to Dompig, he found it regrettable that the judge let the suspects go, because the police force saw it differently. They thought that they had enough proof for them to remain in detention still.
He continued to say that he has to live with the judge’s decision, but this doesn’t take away from the fact that the investigation continues, and that the focus remains on these suspects because they are not off the hook yet.
DIARIO asked the commissioner when he can tell us that the investigation is finished. According to the commissioner he can’t give a specific date and as long as he has enough things to investigate, he cannot close the case.
The moment one is going to close the case is the moment when you have nothing more to investigate, when all questions have been answered, but the answers have not completed the puzzle. That’s when one has to pull the plug on the case.
DIARIO asked the commissioner about a bone that was supposedly found, about which he explained that this is not true and that the deal with Equusearch is that when they find something they have to leave it in its place, notify police and wait for police to arrive.
[translated by Getagrip]
DIARIO Aruba
10/26/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): During an interview, DIARIO asked Dompig if the investigation on the case of Natalee Holloway remains in the direction of the original suspects, Joran van der Sloot, Satish Kalpoe and Deepak Kalpoe.
The commissioner explains that it is true that that is the case, because everything shows that they have to know more, given that Natalee went with them in the car. However, this does not exclude other suspects in this case.
DIARIO asked Dompig how the story turned out where one or more of the suspects said during an interrogation that Natalee was perhaps killed.
According to the commissioner it turned out that they don’t know anything of this, and that they only know that they left her on the beach.
He continues to say that it is important to verify their version, where he explains that they have to prove that they went in front of Joran van der Sloot’s house, so people in the community think that they have seen the gray Honda Civic around 1:40 am.
If there are people who saw the car parked at the house at that time, it is very important that they get in touch with police.
DIARIO asked the commissioner about the verbal declarations made to police, where one of the suspects declared that he believes that one of the other suspects killed Natalee and if something is being done with this.
According to Dompig, he found it regrettable that the judge let the suspects go, because the police force saw it differently. They thought that they had enough proof for them to remain in detention still.
He continued to say that he has to live with the judge’s decision, but this doesn’t take away from the fact that the investigation continues, and that the focus remains on these suspects because they are not off the hook yet.
DIARIO asked the commissioner when he can tell us that the investigation is finished. According to the commissioner he can’t give a specific date and as long as he has enough things to investigate, he cannot close the case.
The moment one is going to close the case is the moment when you have nothing more to investigate, when all questions have been answered, but the answers have not completed the puzzle. That’s when one has to pull the plug on the case.
DIARIO asked the commissioner about a bone that was supposedly found, about which he explained that this is not true and that the deal with Equusearch is that when they find something they have to leave it in its place, notify police and wait for police to arrive.
[translated by Getagrip]
According to Dave HollowayThere is always hope of finding Natalee alive, however police are saying to look in the sea
DIARIO Aruba
10/26/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): Recently DIARIO conversed with the father of Natalee Holloway, Dave Holloway, about the fact that he’s back in Aruba.
According to Holloway, the plan was to start searching where Dompig pointed, where perhaps the could find something. DIARIO asked Natalee’s father what he thinks of how the case is going.
According to Holloway, the case is continuing forward, he said to commissioner Dompig that he hopes that they can find answers on important questions about the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
He also hopes that people in the community can come forward with key tips to solve this case.
He feels that there have to be people who may have seen something. According to Holloway, he has daily contact with the police corps every day.
DIARIO asked Holloway how much time he thinks he will continue looking for Natalee, to which he replied that he doesn’t know, given that he had the intention to go back last Friday, however after the information given by Commissioner Dompig, he decided to stay until the weekend.
Given that they are now focusing on finding Natalee’s body, DIARIO asked Natalee’s father if he has no hope of finding Natalee alive.
According to Dave Holloway, the hope always remains, however he explained that the police corps indicated to him in which direction to look and at the moment all indications from the police is to look in the sea.
[translated by Getagrip]
Commissioner Dompig will ask for Natalee Holloway’s classmates to break their silence
DIARIO Aruba
10/26/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): Tuesday morning DIARIO conversed with commissioner Gerold Dompig, who is at the head of the investigation of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, and asked about the latest developments in the case, given for example that Texas Equusearch is back in Aruba one more time.
According to Dompig, they have jump started the investigation, while the investigation never really stopped in this case.
Dompig continued to say that now that he has united the investigative team, they started to read the material that they have one more time, re-analyze everything and look at the material with a fresh mind.
On this basis, according to Dompig, they will look for different angles in the investigation, which can be seen in a way like a puzzle, that they are completing little by little with the pieces.
Dompig feels that a solution to this case is possible, despite that the criticism of people who say that they regret the fact that the suspects have been set free.
He said that this is not a problem, because this does not hamper the investigation.
Dompig explains that on the basis of an appeal that he made recently on television, they have come across different important calls, which shows that there are people who have seen certain things, which they are investigating and it’s going in a good direction.
According to the commissioner, they were focusing the investigation very much on Aruba only, while now along with the team, Dompig is focusing on America as well.
The commissioner explains that one cannot forget that this was a group which drank together and had a good time, but it is not possible that nobody knows anything.
Dompig explains that the classmates’ declarations which they got from the FBI do not give sufficient information.
On this basis, he called on the group of students from Alabama, for them to call the number of the Noord police station to give information they have.
According to Dompig, many parents told the kids to stay quiet and to not speak to the press.
Now after 4 months, the commissioner asks for them to break their silence, because it can't be that we’re putting the [whole] focus of the investigation on Aruba, while there was a group who was walking every day with Natalee who have not come forward with more important information. This also goes for the chaperones and Natalee’s mother.
[translated by Getagrip]
DIARIO Aruba
10/26/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): Tuesday morning DIARIO conversed with commissioner Gerold Dompig, who is at the head of the investigation of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, and asked about the latest developments in the case, given for example that Texas Equusearch is back in Aruba one more time.
According to Dompig, they have jump started the investigation, while the investigation never really stopped in this case.
Dompig continued to say that now that he has united the investigative team, they started to read the material that they have one more time, re-analyze everything and look at the material with a fresh mind.
On this basis, according to Dompig, they will look for different angles in the investigation, which can be seen in a way like a puzzle, that they are completing little by little with the pieces.
Dompig feels that a solution to this case is possible, despite that the criticism of people who say that they regret the fact that the suspects have been set free.
He said that this is not a problem, because this does not hamper the investigation.
Dompig explains that on the basis of an appeal that he made recently on television, they have come across different important calls, which shows that there are people who have seen certain things, which they are investigating and it’s going in a good direction.
According to the commissioner, they were focusing the investigation very much on Aruba only, while now along with the team, Dompig is focusing on America as well.
The commissioner explains that one cannot forget that this was a group which drank together and had a good time, but it is not possible that nobody knows anything.
Dompig explains that the classmates’ declarations which they got from the FBI do not give sufficient information.
On this basis, he called on the group of students from Alabama, for them to call the number of the Noord police station to give information they have.
According to Dompig, many parents told the kids to stay quiet and to not speak to the press.
Now after 4 months, the commissioner asks for them to break their silence, because it can't be that we’re putting the [whole] focus of the investigation on Aruba, while there was a group who was walking every day with Natalee who have not come forward with more important information. This also goes for the chaperones and Natalee’s mother.
[translated by Getagrip]
According to Tim Miller of Equusearch
If this time they don’t find anything, the family will start saying goodbye to Natalee Holloway in Alabama
DIARIO Aruba
10/26/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): Tuesday, DIARIO conversed with the leader of Texas Equusearch, Tim Miller who is back on Aruba for the third time. Miller explained that they came back to continue looking for Natalee.
He explained that he conversed with commissioner Dompig, who indicated that he has information that perhaps Natalee was thrown in the sea.
According to Miller, they are using the ‘side scan sonar’ one more time and they are expecting more equipment to arrive on Tuesday, from a forensic diver specialized in crime scenes.
Miller explained that they also have equipment that can be used to a depth of 1000 feet because there are some areas in the Aruban sea that go to 700 to 800 feet.
According to Miller, Equusearch has 8 people in Aruba, but they have 3 or 4 more on the way. DIARIO asked Miller how long they will stay in Aruba and Miller explained that he doesn’t know yet.
He said that in the first time they came to Aruba they came for 5 days and ended up staying 5 weeks, while this trip was for 4 days, but they have been here for 7. According to Miller he anticipates that he will stay in Aruba at least one more week.
He continued to say that his intention is to find Natalee, and if she is dead, for her parents to know what happened, […] and to punish the perpetrators.
Miller explained that he doesn’t want to get involved in the FBI investigation or otherwise, so that there’s no risk for Equusearch to be responsible of any information that is leaked.
He said that if they give Equusearch any information of where to search, they will do so. Miller explained the they started searching in front of the Fisherman’s Huts, where they will search for 5 miles and will start looking in different directions.
They are covering a one square mile area per day, given that the side scan sonar process is slow and because they are waiting for more equipment. According to Miller if this time they don’t find anything, the family will start saying goodbye to Natalee, with the search mostly ended.
DIARIO asked Miller if there has been something interesting found, and he said that they found something that seemed interesting, however it turned out to be nothing important.
DIARIO asked miller if they are going to look only in the sea, and he explained that some days ago they searched along some paths inland with the help of a helicopter, however after the information they received from commissioner Dompig, they will continue to look in the sea.
[translated by Getagrip]
If this time they don’t find anything, the family will start saying goodbye to Natalee Holloway in Alabama
DIARIO Aruba
10/26/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): Tuesday, DIARIO conversed with the leader of Texas Equusearch, Tim Miller who is back on Aruba for the third time. Miller explained that they came back to continue looking for Natalee.
He explained that he conversed with commissioner Dompig, who indicated that he has information that perhaps Natalee was thrown in the sea.
According to Miller, they are using the ‘side scan sonar’ one more time and they are expecting more equipment to arrive on Tuesday, from a forensic diver specialized in crime scenes.
Miller explained that they also have equipment that can be used to a depth of 1000 feet because there are some areas in the Aruban sea that go to 700 to 800 feet.
According to Miller, Equusearch has 8 people in Aruba, but they have 3 or 4 more on the way. DIARIO asked Miller how long they will stay in Aruba and Miller explained that he doesn’t know yet.
He said that in the first time they came to Aruba they came for 5 days and ended up staying 5 weeks, while this trip was for 4 days, but they have been here for 7. According to Miller he anticipates that he will stay in Aruba at least one more week.
He continued to say that his intention is to find Natalee, and if she is dead, for her parents to know what happened, […] and to punish the perpetrators.
Miller explained that he doesn’t want to get involved in the FBI investigation or otherwise, so that there’s no risk for Equusearch to be responsible of any information that is leaked.
He said that if they give Equusearch any information of where to search, they will do so. Miller explained the they started searching in front of the Fisherman’s Huts, where they will search for 5 miles and will start looking in different directions.
They are covering a one square mile area per day, given that the side scan sonar process is slow and because they are waiting for more equipment. According to Miller if this time they don’t find anything, the family will start saying goodbye to Natalee, with the search mostly ended.
DIARIO asked Miller if there has been something interesting found, and he said that they found something that seemed interesting, however it turned out to be nothing important.
DIARIO asked miller if they are going to look only in the sea, and he explained that some days ago they searched along some paths inland with the help of a helicopter, however after the information they received from commissioner Dompig, they will continue to look in the sea.
[translated by Getagrip]
Beth Twitty has to come give a declaration once more and explain what is happening with the emergency fund of millions of dollars, according to DompigDIARIO Aruba
10/26/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): During an interview with Police Commissioner Dompig, he explained that the investigative team has invited Natalee Holloway’s mother, Beth Twitty to tell police more about the last contact she had with her daughter.
Dompig indicated that the mother has made her intention to boycott Aruba, while Natalee’s father has cooperated very well with the investigation.
The commissioner says that it is very lamentable that the mother prefers to have contact with police only through her lawyer or American ‘talkshows’.
He also explains that he fully denies to go on any talkshow to answer questions along with the mother.
In this way, the investigative team has invited Beth Twitty to come back to Aruba, to take her declaration again, seeing that there have been rumours around it, in which it was said that police in Aruba changed her declaration.
The investigative team also has different questions for the mother, about certain things surrounding this case, among others what is happening with the emergency fund that is available to them for this case.
The commissioner said that perhaps it’s difficult to ask certain questions, but they don’t have to lie to each other.
The case here is the mother's attacks on Aruba ending, so we are not afraid to ask certain questions.
Dompig indicated that he will ask the mother, what she did with the money that many people contributed with her, putting millions of dollars in a so-called ‘emergency fund’.
Another questions is: “ why doesn’t Natalee’s father have access to this money, when he has to ask for discounts here, like for example for his travel ticket”?
This is all he wants explained on the part of the mother of Natalee Holloway, because it’s part of the investigation. DIARIO asked Dompig if he has found any valuable tips.
The commissioner explains that every tip is assigned a number and if the tip results in being very good, the person can earn a reward, however the fund Dompig speaks of is a fund from people around the world, especially America, who have contributed with much money to help the family with expenses related to the case, that has now reached some million dollars.
According to Dompig, another important question is how this money is not used to help with payments of, for example, those who come to conduct searches in Aruba.
Commissioner Dompig showed as an example the tremendous work of Fred Golba made with his two dogs some time ago and explains that Golba wants to come back to continue searching.
Given that he is looking for funds to pay for his ticket and stay in Aruba to come search, how can he not find funds from the millions that Beth Twitty has from the fund?
This is also a very important part of the investigation. This because a case such as Natalee’s has different scenarios. One scenario is that a person killed Natalee, or for whatever reason she is no longer living.
Another scenario is that she is alive, but everything in the case is a ‘set up’, to profit in one way or another.
One possibility for example is that they said she is deceased, and they can collect the life insurance money, while in reality she is not deceased, but another way is that with collecting funds from people with good intentions that send money for the fund and the family enriches themselves.
If the mother gives information about how much money there is and how much money she is spending, he has no problem with this. However, if the mother has everything secret, this becomes part of the investigation because it puts the case in a different light.
DIARIO indicated that the more the mother appears on the programs, perhaps more money she finds for the fund. Dompig explains that the Task Force of Aruba, along with the government gave him the OK for him to go on the American live programs, but via telephone, for him to give the other side of the coin to what has happened and is happening with this case.
He explains that this has caused them to achieve a lot, seeing that America has said that at last Aruba is giving information, where they have started to look in another direction, to check other possibilities.
One of the possibilities for example, is that the three suspects are not guilty, or that they’re not the only guilty ones. Dompig explains that he is actually doing everything he can to find via the FBI the information that is missing about the group from America, more detailed declarations, so that they can exclude certain possibilities.
In no moment has Aruban police had a chance to exclude the group from Alabama in the investigation, because they left Aruba.
According to Commissioner Dompig he still has different important questions for the group, among others how they went to the airport if Natalee did not appear, and how they didn’t sound the alarm earlier than when they left, of those who where staying in the room with her.
[translated by Getagrip]
10.26.2005
Recordings investigated in the Netherlands
Amigoe
10/26/2005
ARUBA – The authenticity of the recordings that Jamie Skeeters had made of Deepak Kalpoe is currently being investigated by the Dutch Forensic Institute. On the recording, Kalpoe had supposedly said that all three the boys had sex with the missing Natalee Holloway.
Lawyer Rudy Oomen says that his client denies ever having said this, and the lawyer had insisted to have the taped be checked. He says that the recordings were cut and pasted. Skeeter had secretly taped the conversation he had with Kalpoe in July, after he was released the first time. He presented himself as somebody that wanted to help Kalpoe. The first time the tapes were played was in Dr. Phil’s show in September. After that, the tape could be heard more often on the American TV. Chief of Police Gerald Dompig had indicated that if the tapes turn out to be authentic, Kalpoe will be heard again.
[English language original text]
Amigoe
10/26/2005
ARUBA – The authenticity of the recordings that Jamie Skeeters had made of Deepak Kalpoe is currently being investigated by the Dutch Forensic Institute. On the recording, Kalpoe had supposedly said that all three the boys had sex with the missing Natalee Holloway.
Lawyer Rudy Oomen says that his client denies ever having said this, and the lawyer had insisted to have the taped be checked. He says that the recordings were cut and pasted. Skeeter had secretly taped the conversation he had with Kalpoe in July, after he was released the first time. He presented himself as somebody that wanted to help Kalpoe. The first time the tapes were played was in Dr. Phil’s show in September. After that, the tape could be heard more often on the American TV. Chief of Police Gerald Dompig had indicated that if the tapes turn out to be authentic, Kalpoe will be heard again.
[English language original text]
10.25.2005
They are looking in the sea with a sonar
Texas Equusearch group is back in Aruba
DIARIO Aruba
10/25/2005
ORANJESTAD (AAN): The group of search experts, Texas Equusearch, is back in Aruba.
A group of 8 people is present to continue the search specially directed at the sea on the west coast of Aruba. They are looking for the Alabama student, Natalee Holloway, who has been missing for some 5 months.
Monday they went in the sea one more time, aboard the Siegfried Edmundis of the SARFA [Search and Rescue Foundation Aruba]. There were some Americans who are side-scan sonar specialists. With this special machine, any object can be located underwater.
They looked from Palm Beach until Arashi, and a maximum of 1 mile away from the coast.
There are about 8 people from Texas Equusearch in Aruba. The place where they are looking is between the high-rise hotels until Arashi. They navigated parallel [to the beach] to cover one area without losing their place.
Aside from the SARFA boat, they have another boat which follows them at a distance and on board [this boat] there are diving experts. In the event that the side-scan sonar detects something suspicious, they immediately stop and some scuba divers go down and the SARFA boat with the sonar follows them.
Why the focus on this area? At the time that the fishermen’s huts were broken into, apparently the FBI has extracted (including the declaration of a fisherman) that there was a large basket [fish trap] in one of these huts, as well as one knife. The possibility that they are looking for this basket in this side of the sea has not been discarded.
[translated by Getagrip]
Texas Equusearch group is back in Aruba
DIARIO Aruba
10/25/2005
ORANJESTAD (AAN): The group of search experts, Texas Equusearch, is back in Aruba.
A group of 8 people is present to continue the search specially directed at the sea on the west coast of Aruba. They are looking for the Alabama student, Natalee Holloway, who has been missing for some 5 months.
Monday they went in the sea one more time, aboard the Siegfried Edmundis of the SARFA [Search and Rescue Foundation Aruba]. There were some Americans who are side-scan sonar specialists. With this special machine, any object can be located underwater.
They looked from Palm Beach until Arashi, and a maximum of 1 mile away from the coast.
There are about 8 people from Texas Equusearch in Aruba. The place where they are looking is between the high-rise hotels until Arashi. They navigated parallel [to the beach] to cover one area without losing their place.
Aside from the SARFA boat, they have another boat which follows them at a distance and on board [this boat] there are diving experts. In the event that the side-scan sonar detects something suspicious, they immediately stop and some scuba divers go down and the SARFA boat with the sonar follows them.
Why the focus on this area? At the time that the fishermen’s huts were broken into, apparently the FBI has extracted (including the declaration of a fisherman) that there was a large basket [fish trap] in one of these huts, as well as one knife. The possibility that they are looking for this basket in this side of the sea has not been discarded.
[translated by Getagrip]
10.24.2005
Paulus van der Sloot initiates preliminary case for damage and prejudice
related to the fact that he sat a few days in jail
DIARIO Aruba
10/22/2005
ORANJESTAD(AAN): On Friday morning, the parents of Joran van der Sloot, Paulus and Anita van der Sloot presented themselves in court, along with their lawyer Mr. Arie Swaen.
Information that DIARIO has obtained shows that Paulus van der Sloot went to court with his lawyer to initiate a case of damage and prejudice, due to his being jailed during the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
DIARIO called lawyer Swaen to confirm, and the lawyer explained that it’s is true that the case took place, however it can be regarded as a preliminary case. A person can ask for damages and prejudice when a case is officially closed. A person has 3 months to do this.
The judge indicated that he will give his decision on the 11th of November. According to lawyer Swaen, if the judge decides that the case is closed for Paulus van der Sloot, they will then initiate a case of damage and prejudice, for the days he sat in the police station jail.
If the case is not closed, they will then keep looking for when this will be the case so they can follow up. The question is, on what does the lawyer base a case of damage and prejudice and what will he ask for his client, as normally a suspect can ask for 50 Florin per day that he sat in KIA, in the case that he is innocent.
And Paulus van der Sloot did not sit in jail many days. Perhaps the case is based on the fact that van der Sloot’s career is now affected because of the days he sat in jail. In other editions, DIARIO will look for more information on this case.
[translated by Getagrip]
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