Information on Natalee Holloway case leaked to the international press
Recording of Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot reveals horrific information
DIARIO Aruba
4/20/2006

ORANJESTAD (AAN) - DIARIO has obtained a copy of a police report in which there is a transcript from an audio recording where Joran van der Sloot, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe are discussing and accusing one another formally about what could have happened in the case of Natalee Holloway.

It is not known exactly where the conversation among the three was recorded, but the contents are horrific and any person who is in the least bit educated can make out that the three suspects are mentioning matters which give people the clear impression that all three know what happened with Natalee, and that something bad was done to Natalee Holloway.

From one end to the other, the Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot accuse each other of being guilty of what happened to Natalee Holloway and there’s even mention of the body of the victim and when the three suspects speak of the body of a victim, there’s no other conclusion than Natalee Holloway being dead.

The question now is: who did something, how, how many people were aware of this, who participated in this, and how far can it be said that there are more people who helped cover up evidence that until today the case hasn’t been able to be solved?

The fact is that today during the day someone high placed in the justice apparatus has to explain to the community how the three suspects are still free given the information in the police report.

This information illustrates the reason why the Aruban police was frustrated in the investigation given that they had key information, but for one reason or another they did not have more to continue to pursue the three suspects criminally.

Until when can police work with the determination on such a case if the information points very clearly in a certain direction in regards to the suspects, but the Judge Commissioner sets them free and police with the prosecutors can’t do much until they find more solid evidence such as the victim’s body?

At a certain point, one of the Kalpoe brothers, Deepak, told Joran van der Sloot that Joran will get 15 years of penalty if they find the girl, referring to Natalee Holloway.

If Joran didn’t do anything to Natalee, then why did Deepak said to Joran that Joran will get a penalty of 15 years?

Like this, there are many more matters that are mentioned in the strong discussion that was held between the Kalpoe brothers and Joran and today DIARIO has reproduced the police report as it was left in our mailbox, and also DIARIO translated the report in Papiamento so that the community can read the fine print.

It has to be noted that the transcript is redacted in bad Dutch grammar and full of typos, but the content speaks for itself and it is easy for everyone to read and understand.

Reading the report, the other faces of the suspects – Kalpoes and van der Sloot – is put forward, contrary to what they have pretended to be from the first day that they got publicity related to the disappearance of Natalee, because the language and the brutality in the manner of speaking to one another and their accusations of each other is not positive for them and leads people to doubt their supposed complete innocence.

This time, no one can say that the Aruban or international press invented sensational stories because this is information extracted from a police report.

The case of the disappearance of Natalee will get an unexpected twist because names of other people are being mentioned and yesterday, U.S. TV channels, who also have copies of the police report, aired some excerpts of what the Kalpoe brothers and Joran were accusing each other of.

[translated by Getagrip]

Holloway-detainee also suspected of drug dealing
Amigoe
4/19/2006

ARUBA – On Tuesday afternoon, the Public Prosecutor (OM) confirmed that Geoffrey van Cromvoirt was arrested last Saturday in the current investigation on the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The only statement made by the OM in a press report is that Van Cromvoirt “is suspected of facts that can be related to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway and drug dealing”.

The local as well as the international media were at the court-house waiting for Van Cromvoirt to be brought before the examining magistrate. Nobody knew at what exact time this would be and the OM had not said anything other than ‘he will be brought before the examining magistrate today’. This was enough reason for the international media to wait. FBI-profiler Clint Vanzandt called the arrest of crucial importance and said that he anticipates that this arrest would lead to a new clue in the Holloway-case.

An examining-magistrate from Curacao has extended the detention of Van Cromvoirt with 8 days. This was done in the presence of Van Cromvoirt’s lawyer Eline Lotter-Homan.

Arthur Dowers (AVP) made it clear that Aruba is not really waiting for a new round of negative information around the Holloway-case. “This case has a big effect on the tourism. New developments should be made public. We have to be transparent and open.” Joran van der Sloot’s father, Paul van der Sloot told the Associated Press that his son doesn’t know Van Cromvoirt. The Kalpoe’s lawyer Ronnie Wix indicated that he is not sure whether his clients know Van Cromvoirt. This is the first time that Van Cromvoirt has come in contact with justice.

In the case of Natalee Holloway
19 year old detained on charges of murder complicity
Bon Dia Aruba
4/18/2006

O R A N J E S T A D – This weekend, police authorities detained a 19 year old by the initials of G.v.C., related to the case of the disappearance of the young American student, Natalee Holloway.

The first reports showed that the decision to detain the youngster was on the basis of certain indications that he could have information related to the disappearance of the young American student. The v.C. youngster was part of the Visibility Team, which on top of it, actively participated in the search for Natalee, while his father conducted the security system by means of recordings, in the areas around the big hotels.

Unofficial reports that Bon Dia has obtained show that the detention of the young man van Cromvoirt was prolonged already by 8 days yesterday, while today in all probability he will have to be presented in front of a Judge Commissioner related to his detention.

Other reports which were able to be collected about the detention of this new figure in the mysterious Holloway case, indicates that the detention of this youngster used the charges of article 302, which means premeditated murder, but also in conjunction with 50, which is complicity to commit premeditated murder and also in conjunction with 49, which is having information related to a premeditated murder but not divulging this to solve the case.

It is also Bon Dia Aruba’s understanding that his detention is also on the basis of article 300, which is for murder, in conjunction with 50, which is complicity by not giving information about a murder.

SPECTACLE

Once again, the detention of a new figure in the case of Natalee Holloway, has procured to start a new spectacle for the American media.

Various TV channels sent cameramen and reporters as of Sunday to Aruba to cover every development in this case, and this automatically means that there will be a series of incorrect information which will be sent to publication. As of yesterday they were talking of possible ‘forensic’ evidence from a uniform of the security company which was found many months back but this information is not based on fact.

Today, the same ‘upheaval’ there was previously during the appearance in front of a judge of the three youngsters – v/d Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers - can be expected.

[translated by Getagrip]

How was he not brought in front of the judge as usual?
Geoffrey’s detention has to do with drug possession as well!
New suspect is represented by attorney mr. Eline Lotter-Homan
DIARIO Aruba
4/19/2006

ORANJESTAD(AAN): When any native son is detained, and has to be presented in front of the Judge Commissioner, according to the rules, the detained is brought to the Justice Building.

But what happened Tuesday? This was not the case. The new detainee in the Natalee’s case, Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, was not brought to the Court Building! Why? Because he is Dutch…because of this they want to protect him? This is what some people called and asked DIARIO. More than clear, the newspaper told them they better call and ask the Public Prosecutor.

Why did they not follow normal procedure in such a situation? If the case was that an Aruban was detained, would they not have brought him to the Court Building no matter what the cost?

Finally, in the afternoon hours, a Judge Commissioner went to the Noord police station, where the 19 year old detainee was presented. Here, the Judge Commissioner reviewed the detention formalities, and decided that the detention was conducted legally, and the prolongation of the detention for 8 days as asked by the prosecutor is valid.

When exiting, prosecutor mr. Karen Janssen had a smile on her face. This shows in a silent way that they are happy with the decision.

GEOFFREY’S ATTORNEY

Tuesday, in front of the Court, DIARIO interviewed attorney mr. Petrochi, who was the appointed lawyer when the new suspect in the Natalee Holloway case, Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, was detained.

DIARIO asked the attorney if he found out what exactly was the reason for van Cromvoirt’s detention; however, he said that he didn’t know the reason. He said that he is no longer the attorney of this suspect. He only attended to the first part of the detention.

Now, the case of van Cromvoirt is in the hands of another attorney. Attorney Petrochi could not confirm who was the new lawyer; however, DIARIO was able to find out that it was going to be mr. Eline Lotter-Homan who will represent van Cromvoirt in this case.

The 19 year old’s detention was prolonged; however van Cromvoirt had to appear in front of a Judge Commissioner Tuesday, to determine if the suspect’s detention was valid. This also went well.

In the meantime, reports continue to come in about this detention mystery. The Public Prosecution continues to maintain its silence, although once in a while they let something leak.

DRUG DEALING AS WELL

But the detail which surprised everyone the most is that Geoffrey is not only imprisoned due that he could have something to do with Natalee’s disappearance, but also that he was arrested on drug dealing accusations.

It is still not officially known how Geoffrey is connected to the disappearance. But the detailed revealed Tuesday in DIARIO related to the VCB Security t-shirt and forensic material on it, could be a strong indication.

On the other hand, the details given in terms of the drug matter and Geoffrey, has made local observers immediately think more deeply. They find that this new case ‘smells very strange’.

They explained to DIARIO that if a person is suspected of crimes related to drugs from any force, or investigative team, any drug case in Holland (DIARIO does not want to mention more) and he is detained…the official asks the Judge Commissioner to search the suspect’s house from top to bottom to find any substance that has to do with drugs.

His computer is opened and they take out the innards! In his room, they let dogs smell on top and below the bed to find out if they can at least find a seed, white substance, continue to every corner of the house in order to have evidence. All this to avoid that in the future this happens in the force, so that they not fail investigators again.

But here again, clearly they have committed a flagrant error! They invited Geoffrey to come to the station, where he was then detained. Those in charge of the investigation have to come to their conclusions and take their retirement, not today, but yesterday – along with all the wise people from the Public Prosecution, with the exception of ‘Tante Truus” [Aunt Truus].

[translated by Getagrip]

Natalee Holloway case once again a tourist attraction
DIARIO Aruba
4/19/2006

ORANJESTAD(AAN): During the whole case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, it can be observed that not only does the case attract the attention of the local and international press, but also that of tourists, who are in Aruba on vacation.

At the beginning of this case last year, there were some tourists who turned up at the Court, to take pictures of the various suspects in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

So much so, that it has been said that some tourists came to Aruba especially to be close to the case and take pictures.

Perhaps some of them were interested in obtaining a good picture which they could sell to certain magazines in the U.S., or keep as a souvenir.

Now that the international press has massively turned up in Aruba again, after a new suspect was detained, once again different tourists have turned up at Court on Tuesday, to take pictures of Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, who is the new suspect in the case of the disappearance of the American youngster.

DIARIO took notes, and took pictures of some tourist who turned up with a disposable camera, in order to get the opportunity to take a picture of the new suspect.

[translated by Getagrip]

They’re back
DIARIO Aruba
4/19/2006

ORANJESTAD (AAN): You can see here various cameramen, soundmen and producers who have come from the U.S. again in order to cover the recent developments in the Natalee Holloway case in Aruba.

They stood from morning to afternoon in front of the Court Building at the Beach, waiting for authorities to bring Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, the new detainee, in front of the Judge Commissioner.

However, this did not happen at the Justice Building, but at the police station itself.

[translated by Getagrip]

His father was already questioned at the beginning of the case
Geoffrey van Cromvoirt detained as suspect in the case of the disappearance of Natalee
Perhaps a link to the case with uniform found in the Colony area near the sea
DIARIO Aruba
4/18/2006

ORANJESTAD(AAN): In the noon hours of this past Saturday, the Public Prosecutor acted and detained a new person in the case of the disappearance of the student Natalee Holloway.

However, it was only in the afternoon hours that this detention was leaked to the press, and it is time to know who it is.

The youngster worked at one time for the VCB Security Company, which is also in charge of the administration of the Visibility Team in Aruba.

It can still be recalled how in the month of June 2005, when the government gave half a day free to all its workers to search, that in the vicinity of the sea, close to an area where kite surfing is done, at the entrance of Colony, a uniform of VCB (Video Camara Beveiliging) was found.

At that time, they interrogated the director of this company who is the same person who is in charge of the whole camera system on the side of the big hotels, along with the Visibility Team.

This same director is the father of the youngster Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, 19 years of age (born in Holland), who was also working in his father’s company, VCB., after his sister, who also worked there, became a policewoman.

GEOFFREY WAS ‘FIRED’

DIARIO has information that Geoffrey van Cromvoirt was fired from his job because police did not want to work with him. Aside from this, Geoffrey is a good friend of Commissioner Gerold Dompig’s son, who also was working on the Visibility Team near the sea.

Both of them, according to colleagues, apparently were always talking about how they ‘had fun’ with female tourists who they met on the beach. They even said they liked to lie and say that they were police so that they could do illegal things.

Some months back, Commissioner Gerold Dompig’s son was ‘practically’ fired from the team. It is not known where Gerold Dompig’s son is working, but Geoffrey van Cromvoirt is working on the beach, near a water sports company. In other words, he is a ‘beach bum’.

Although there is no confirmation about what his role is in this case, it must be questioned if it starts with the link of the security t-shirt found on the coast near the entrance of the Colony neighbourhood. A lawyer said that on this cloth there is relevant forensic information.

The piece of clothing was a uniform similar to the one that Geoffrey himself used. More detentions can be expected in the case, although we have information that Geoffrey is not cooperating at all with authorities in this case.

On this photo of Geoffrey, from the DIARIO archives, he can be seen when his sister was sworn in as a policewoman in San Nicolas. He was standing behind his sister that day.

HIS ROLE IN THE INVESTIGATION

Many people are asking, but no one has found the answer. What do authorities really have on this youngster? There is speculation that this arrest came after the program Opsporing Verzocht passed and that it produced about 100 tips. The Public Prosecution, however, is not giving any details. They have apparently learned from experiences in the past.

Although there’s an indication that perhaps Geoffrey met Natalee before Sunday, May 29 of 2005, there are others that show that possibly he was detained as a pretext to extract information that he could have, related to the involvement of van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers.

Apart from this, still authorities still must know whose DNA was found on the toothbrush from the hotel bathroom. It was a male DNA.

In the meantime, the American and Dutch press have also paid attention to this new detention. Some are even questioning if this is a ‘show’, due to the fact that Dave Holloway’s book came out last week, containing grave accusations towards the Public Prosecution. It has even been said that when Natalee’s mother’s book comes out, that this will really sink Aruba.

CONNECTION WITH JORAN OR NOT?

Meanwhile, Joran’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, explained that his client does not know Geoffrey, although there are some details circulating to the contrary.

He indicated that they are happy that Geoffrey is an ‘unknown’ to them, and that it shows that authorities are really working on new tips and can find a solution to this.

Sunday morning, the American press started to flood the VCB Security Company with calls. In the noon hours, even their web site had been changed, where the company decided to remove a photo of Geoffrey which was on it. A photo of the father was also removed from VCB’s web site. There are even some who question if perhaps this company could have ‘manipulated’ videotapes from hotel security in van der Sloot’s favour. However, observers deny this speculation as baseless inventions.

Today, they will have to bring Geoffrey in front of the Judge Commissioner to decide If his detention will be prolonged or not. In the meantime, it is DIARIO’s understanding that Geoffrey’s interrogation continues. He is a person who is regularly seen on the side of the beach, and they have to verify if he indeed could have met with Natalee.

[translated by Getagrip]

Arrest in Holloway-case
Amigoe
4/18/2006

ARUBA – Last Saturday, the police has arrested the 19-year old Geoffrey van Cromvoirt in the case of the American student Natalee Holloway, who disappeared while vacationing in Aruba. Van Cromvoirt was taken before the examining magistrate today, but at the time this newspaper went to press, it was not known yet whether his detention was extended.

Was this arrest linked to tips received after the special transmission of Opsporing Verzocht last week Tuesday that devoted the program to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway nearly a year ago, on the final night of her high school graduation trip to Aruba? Van Cromvoirt works with the Visibility Team. His father owns a security service, VCB that works for some big hotels. The Public Prosecutor (OM) has confirmed the arrest, but was not prepared to disclose why the person was arrested. It can be that he withheld information, but it can also be that he was seen with the girl on the night of her disappearance. The international media has again arrived on the island with some camera crew to broadcast the newest developments worldwide.

Antillean House angry about brown Joran
Amigoe
4/12/2006

CURACAO/RIJSWIJK – Minister Plenipotentiary Paul Comenencia of the Antilles accuses before the ANP the police and the Public Prosecutor (OM) as producers of the Dutch program Opsporings Verzocht of twisting the facts consciously and abundantly clear. He also says that police and justice do no longer need to count on the cooperation of the Antilles.

The criticism is about yesterday’s program that dedicated time to the disappearance of the American Natalee Holloway. According to Comenencia, Joran van der Sloot, a white Dutch boy, was presented as a brown person, which was unjust.

“By consciously twisting abundantly clear facts and misleading the public that are being asked for their cooperation in tracing perpetrators, the program departs from its purpose”, says Comenencia. Why didn’t they choose a white actor for Joran’s character? By using a brown actor it gives the impression that the producers have opted for highlighting what is already presented as stereotype criminal in the Netherlands. And this is unjust.

Opsporings Verzocht is an investigation tool for police and justice. These two services decided on the content of the program. “What should we think of the rest of the program? They do no longer need to count on our cooperation. Looking for fictitious perpetrators makes no sense.” A spokesperson of the Utrecht police that has worked on the program says in a reaction on Comenencia’s accusations that the reconstruction was done by the investigation team in Aruba. “We helped, but we were not responsible for the direction.”

OM in Aruba: ‘Stand-in is white’
Amigoe
4/12/2006

The young man that acted Joran van der Sloot in the reconstruction yesterday has very light skin and considered white in Aruba, said the OM in a press report in Aruba.

Besides, no skin colour was considered during the selection. “It is not important for the investigation team what the colour of a person’s skin is, or how dark the person is.”

The length and the figure were the criteria used for selecting the young man that played Joran. The stand-ins for Joran and the brothers Kalpoe were selected amongst police officers of the Police Academy in Aruba.

Sixty tips after Opsporings Verzocht
Amigoe
4/12/2006

ARUBA – Sixty tips have already been received this morning as a result of the Opsporings Verzocht that dedicated the program to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Viewers were asked for tips.

In the program, Dolfi Richardson was the chief of police in charge of the case. He asked for tips in a structured manner. The local viewer were wondering why the population was not asked for cooperation with certain tips months earlier.

The program was organized with the cooperation of the police corps of Utrecht, of which three detectives have been involved with the investigation in Aruba. After a reconstruction of the last hours Holloway was seen, the viewers were asked for tips on a few matters. They would like to get in contact with people that were near the lighthouse, Arashi, the Fishermen’s Huts, or at Joran van der Sloot’s house the night that Holloway disappeared and have either seen people there or nobody. They want tips because the declarations of the three suspects about where they were that night with Natalee are contradictive. Chief of police Richardson said that even though all three suspects declared that Natalee and Joran were at Fishermen’s Huts, three fishermen that were also there had said that they haven’t seen anybody.

Because up till now it is not clear how Joran got home, either walking or picked up by one of the brothers, the police want tips on this. Deepak’s grey Honda Civic was extensively shown in the program, because this low car with spoilers is supposedly the only one of this kind in Aruba. People that have seen this car on the night of the disappearance are asked to get in contact with the police.

A Colombian man had called Carlos’ n Charlie’s on December 31st, saying that he knows where Natalee is buried. His call was the reason for searching the area again recently. The police want this man to get in contact with them. There was also a reporting that around 02:30 on the night Natalee disappeared, a Honda Civic was seen at the Saliña near the Racket Club. If there are more people that have seen this, please contact the police. A woman had also reported that she had seen four sweaty boys with a shovel on that night in question. The police want to find this woman. They also want all pictures and film images of the days between May 26th and June 9th that might have something of interest for the police. It was mentioned in the program that it is unlikely that Holloway has disappeared in the sea, because her body would have washed ashore in Aruba. If she (her body) was thrown in sea a few hundred meters off the coast, her body would have washed ashore in Venezuela or Colombia. According to the police, there is no reporting on this. The information of the transmission is on the website of the program www.opsporingverzocht.nl, also in English and Papiamento. A local telephone number [see OV web site] connects callers with the police in Utrecht that register the tips. Anonymous informers can call [see OV web site].

Remitted
Why was a ‘macamba’ [dutch-born Aruban] not used for the role of Joran?
DIARIO Aruba
4/12/2006

Shonnan [?], I have much admiration and respect towards certain things that go on in Holland, but obviously there are also many things that are onterecht [underserved]…with a lot of emphasis on onterecht!

A few minutes ago, Nederland 2 (AVRO) just aired the program called ‘Opsporing Verzocht’ [watch video here] which dedicated an hour to the matter of Natalee Holloway.

The did a dramatization of the event, which is something very normal (almost) like they always have the habit of doing.

They used a group of blond macamba kids to portray the American students.
However, the youngster they used to portray Joran v/d Sloot…wasn’t a macamba! He wasn’t white either, someone who could pass for a Dutch European.

They used an actor completely different, of Aruban appearance, light brown skinned, to pass as Joran.

Why didn’t they use a Macamba?

As well known as this case may be, there are thousands of macambas here who have never heard of this case, and I guarantee you that ALL will think that the suspect must be an Aruban or a non-macamba person! Arubans have to protest against this.

As a television producer, I am extremely obstinate with this. Why didn’t they put a girl of ‘latin’ or Aruban appearance instead of a blond who REALLY could look to be American? Then why didn’t the actor look like a macamba?

Finally, I want to be clear that I have nothing against Joran. I even posed for a picture with him, and I will go as far as saying that for me, Joran is 99.9% innocent.

My problem is with AVRO who always try to use actors who come as ‘close as possible’ in their program, this time put thousands of viewers who don’t know of the case to think that it has to do with an Aruban, or in any case a non-Dutch person, then this is NOT fair.

Alex Alberto
Holland
(via internet)

_________________________

More from Holland...

Holloway reconstruction in race row
12 April 2006

AMSTERDAM — The government of the Netherlands Antilles has reacted angrily to the broadcast of a television appeal for information about the disappearance of American Natalee Holloway.

A non-white actor played the role of white Dutch teenager Joran van der Sloot, 18, in the re-enactment of the final hours prior to 18-year-old Holloway vanishing on the Dutch autonomous island of Aruba in the Caribbean.

Van der Sloot was one of the three youths Holloway left a nightclub in a car with on 30 May 2005. She has not been seen since. The other two in the car were Surinamese brothers Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and Satish Kalpoe, 18.

The re-enactment was featured on a special edition of Dutch crime-stoppers programme 'Opsporing Verzocht' on Tuesday evening. It was broadcast on Aruba hours later.

A Dutch police spokesperson said the broadcast in the Netherlands generated 50 tips from the public by Wednesday morning.

The Antillean government in Willemstad, Curacao accused prosecutors who cooperated with the programme of distorting the facts by not using a white actor, RTL Nieuws reported.

Aruba broke away from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2006]

Dompig resigned voluntarily
Amigoe
4/11/2006

ARUBA – The Strategic Communication Task Force indicated that Gerold Dompig voluntarily resigned his post as managing the investigation on the disappeared Natalee Holloway. The Public Prosecutor mentioned that the Dutch investigation team has not found anything in the Holloway-case. The team is meanwhile back in the Netherlands.

The Task Force says that Dompig’s decision to resign was a combination of factors. One of them was the media’s criticism in the Netherlands, Aruba, and the United States on the statements he made about the progress of the investigation. And, even more important, the case is now entering a critical, analytic phase, which is especially the expertise of Dompig’s substitute Dolfi Richardson. Dompig stays with the Corps and will continue providing Richardson with advice on the case.

The search of the Dutch specialists was unsuccessful. They used dead body search dogs, ground radar, and metal detectors to find Holloway’s body. The police together with analysts and under leadership of Richardson are reviewing the whole case. The investigation on the missing Holloway continues.

‘Maintain just one Caribbean Court’
Amigoe
4/11/2006

CURACAO/THE HAGUE – Judges P. de Bruin and P. Lemaire, whom amongst others have been working till mid 2005 as member of the Joint Court of Justice in Aruba, plead for maintaining the Joint Court and against the advice of the established work group by the Aruban minister, who advised in 2003 that Aruba must get an independent Aruban Court of First Instance (GEA). They did this in the Dutch Jurists’ Newsletter (Juristenblad).

The Joint Court had also objected this advice in its report of February 2005. Besides, the advice also counts for the new to be created countries Curacao and St. Maarten. “Due to the small-scale of the communities in question and the patronized patterns that are difficult to repel, the judiciary in the Caribbean will always be more under direct political pressure than in a big community like the case of the Dutch judiciary”, write De Bruin and Lemaire. “An independent administration of justice leads to getting constitutional relations further out of balance compared to the already strong political governmental elite on the islands.” Their experience in Aruba is that strong fundamentals which balance the different power of government is mentioned on paper, but is different in practice.
The Parliament is not engaged enough in their controlling language and is a ‘postmark-Parliament’. The opposition is indeed critical, but powerless. The legislation task is insufficiently performed and in addition, the influence of the government on the small civil service is big. There are also political appointments done in the field of the Public Prosecutor. The government does comply with judicial decisions, “but there is still reason for some concern. They often govern only incidentally just to satisfy the interest of the own supporters, with the consequence that the ones that are not part of that grassroots support have to produce relatively much.” With this De Bruin and Lemaire refer to amongst others the Dutch judges on assignment.

Ummm...

I generally don't add commentary, but Holy! Oh yes, it's Holy Week. Surely the staff at Bon Dia Aruba knows this. Semana Santa is generally a huge week for tourism in the Caribbean. Are the tourists nowhere to be found, and is that why they're in such a libelous mood?

To you, dear Bon Dia Aruba writing staff, I say: your journalistic standards are underwhelming.

Continue to never question the authorities, for they have done no wrong, right?

The vitriol and lack of humanity has been observed by all. May God have mercy on your souls.

Now that Dompig has retired, Bernadina is accused of manipulating the investigation
Strong suspicion that Natalee Holloway’s mother is more involved in her daughter’s disappearance than is apparent
The fact that she is accusing everyone, indicates that she wants to shift attention away from herself
Bon Dia Aruba
4/10/2006

ORANJESTAD – Now that Gerold Dompig is no longer at the head of the investigative team, Natalee Holloway’s mother thinks it’s good to accused High Commissioner Ronny Bernadina of being the person who is maneuvering and orchestrating the whole investigation with his latest changes in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. This has put many people to think that now one has to search in the other side, in the direction of the parents of Natalee Holloway, and not in Aruba where there are 3 youngsters who are still suspects

RETIREMENT

This can be deduced from the moment that the news came out that Gerold Dompig was handed his retirement as chief of the investigation on Natalee Holloway. The reaction the mother had was incredible in the U.S. It could be noted on various TV channels that the mother of Natalee Holloway appeared in the course of the week. Instead of being happy that Dompig was removed, since she was angry with his style of work, now she looked for another guilty one, who is Bernadina.

BERNADINA

She, among others, indicated that Bernadina didn’t even have the decency to speak with her, but knows well enough to orchestrate this investigation in such an unprofessional manner that she was stunned. This is another indication that the mother has to continue to look for a guilty party, whoever it may be.

INVESTIGATION

If traced back to the beginning, with the person who started the investigation, Jan v.d. Straten, was the one who was ‘boze dader macamba’ who had a complot with another ‘macamba’ [Dutch born Aruban], Karin Janssen and together they were manipulating and undoing things that were not good. When v.d. Straten retired, she spoke of a positive change. But in an instant, this changed and she continue to turn against local police.

SCREEN

When Gerold Dompig came into the screen, he was the perfect bull’s eye for Beth Twitty. She was in constant contact with Dompig, as was the case with v.d. Straten, but this again was not enough. The mother continued with her attacks in and a very short time, Dompig became the target of criticism.

PATTERN

The pattern that now exists is that the reaction of the mother in these past weeks has made many people think what others thought from the beginning. This is that the mother and the father themselves have something to do with the case, and as a sort of coverup, they are looking for all sorts of way to find an ‘easy’ public target to attack, and remove the attention from themselves.

TWITTY

When Beth Twitty is heard declaring that almost nothing has been done, to the questions of the American journalists of whether she believes enough has been done, this makes many agents and people in Aruba boil. It shows that if it were another investigation, it would have been closed a long time ago. However in this case, almost a year later, the investigation is still open. This should say something.

METHOD

For all the exceptional methods that were used, such as using F-16 jets, giving the whole island free time to look for Holloway (while there have been other missing people and nothing like this was done in their case), it is difficult to believe that the mother dares to mention that not enough has been done to be able to find her daughter.

QUESTIONABLE

Another questionable issue is the fact that this week, the biological father, Dave Holloway, published his book on the disappearance of his daughter. Not even a year has passed that the book is on the market. A book that will surely generate renewed interest and at the same time is a financial contribution to the father. A book, seeing the media interest, will become a ‘best seller’ surely. And with bestseller status, it will be a million dollar sum for the writer, who in this case is Dave Holloway. And never has there been a mention that this sum will be used for ‘Natalee causes’. Something that has never been mentioned.

TACTIC

Finally, time will tell if the families of Natalee Holloway themselves are guilty of this case. All this is the fault of everyone who gave long hours in the service of the search of this American lady. Call the tactics of v.d. Straten, Dompig, Jacobs and others bad, but they worked searched and tried to do something for the family of a lost child and as such, they have to be given the benefit of the doubt. Their tactics and expertise will be clear later.

Another breed of special dog leaves Aruba without finding anything
More respect more be shown for Aruba police force specialists
Bon Dia Aruba
4/10/2006

ORANJESTAD- The group of Dutch experts left Aruba Friday night along with their dogs specialized in cadaver search without being able to locate the body of the young American student, Natalee Holloway.

A search which took place for one long week and was under way on the basis of information obtained from the survey conducted by two F-16’s from the Dutch Air Force that flew over Aruba.

The group limited itself to a search of the Westpunt dunes but the results were the same thing that the groups which previously searched, without finding anything either.

That this group would achieve something, was not anticipated given that special groups from the U.S. who had already conducted a search, was not able to find anything.

This Dutch group didn’t have any success either and others who could come in the future will not find anything that is not there to find either. What these groups are doing above all else is ridiculing our Aruba Police Force, showing that our people are not capable, while the Police Force also made use of dogs and used a big part of their human force to look for the youngster in the same location without finding anything.

To top it all off, they took one insult after another, given that the Dutch group specialized in the reconstruction of cases of missing persons, ‘Opsporing Verzocht’, humiliated the police force last week with some declarations. These experts came forward and said that the investigation is ‘full of holes’, that many aspects were not covered, ridiculing the big work done by Aruban investigators.

This type of thing is unacceptable, given that the police force has done a great young for many years, resolved the great majority of the cases that they have been confronted with, and they do not deserve such treatment that they have been receiving for a situation they did not ask for.

What is really missing now is to ask the Mexican government’s help, special assistance since they could send some ‘Chihuahua’ dogs to Aruba, given that only this breed is the only one that still hasn’t come to Aruba to search in the dunes for Natalee’s body.

The moment has come to let our own Police Force and Public Prosecution work in peace, and everyone to do what they usually do and don’t do, and not do what they never do but want to do in the case of Natalee Holloway.

New tips on Natalee Holloway case continue to come in
Bon Dia Aruba
4/10/2006

ORANJESTAD— Tips continue to come in to the Public Prosecution and the Police Force. It’s Bon Dia Aruba’s understanding that despite the search team from Holland leaving Aruba, there is other information coming in that could help police solve the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The Public Prosecution, specifically chief prosecutor Janssen, and investigators in these past few days, including yesterday, met with two people, Kelly Castillo and Daniel Young, who said they have key information of what could have happened to Natalee, and they are willing to help authorities in giving them the necessary clues.

These people were already in contact with Natalee’s mother, Beth Twitty, who asked them to come to Aruba. However, when these persons found certain information, they realized that the case was not as Beth Twitty has told the world, but that it was something much simpler, where it cannot be said that the youngster was murdered. Castillo and Young went as far as saying that Beth Twitty knew that Natalee was alive a couple of days when the mother herself was in Aruba. This explains the first poster where she asked her daughter to get in touch with her. Further still, Beth had in her possession the telephone that Natalee used to tell her she would not return to the U.S., something that the mother did not give to police immediately.

After Castillo and Young came to Aruba, they were able to find more information, and revealed to Beth what they know. Beth didn’t like what the duo said and even said that she was not interested to know who Natalee was with last. She only wanted revenge and that her focus remained on the three youngsters who were with her after Carlos & Charlie’s.

Authorities have all the recordings and notes that Castillo and Young made during their conversations with Twitty and they are willing to publish these soon. Further still, according to these two people from the U.S., for them it is confirmed that Natalee didn’t want to return home for abuse reasons and that it’s not the first time that the youngster went as far as doing something like this.

Bon Dia Aruba understands that the meetings with authorities took their time and now they are looking at what will come out of the new information which was presented to the chief prosecutor and the investigative team.

In the meantime, the program ‘Opsporing Verzocht’ is scheduled for tomorrow night, Tuesday and this also should produce new facts to help finally solve the case.

After almost two weeks if intensive search
Group of specialists from Holland with dogs left Aruba last night
They only found some dead dogs buried but nothing related to the Holloway case
Bon Dia Aruba
4/8/2006

ORANJESTAD – After almost two weeks of searching for Natalee Holloway in Aruba, the special group from Holland left Aruba last night. Besides finding some dead dogs, they did not find anything substantial that could help the investigation.

Given the situation, they decided to return to Holland last night, where they will decide what they had to do. It has not been discarded that they will conduct some searches later, but given that they didn’t have any positive results, and that it is very costly, they decided to cancel the search and return to Holland last night.

Safety conference for tourism in the region
Amigoe
4/8/2006

Representatives of Aruba Hospitality & Security Foundation, Aruba Hotel And Tourism Association and Aruba Tourism Authority pose for a picture after the press conference in which the first safety conference was announced.

ARUBA – Safety within the tourist industry in the Caribbean region, the part the media plays during a crisis, and safety during big events are the subjects that will be discussed during the first Caribbean Tourism Security Conference. The conference takes place in the Wyndham Hotel on June 7th, 8th, and 9th.

Ministers and top government officials from a great number of countries in the region, hotel managers, and safety experts are invited for the conference. The tourist industry has gone through a clear change between the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century. The general opinion of policy makers before September 11th was that disaster- and other trainings that have to do with guaranteeing the safety of tourists were too transparent and led to unnecessary anxiety. From that moment on, tourists clearly made demands on the way the authorities were protecting them. Disaster trainings had to be kept noticeable in order to take away the anxiety. As part of this, Aruba Hospitality & Security Foundation (AHSF), Aruba Hotel And Tourism Association (Ahata) and Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) organize together on June 7th, 8th, and 9th the first Caribbean Tourism Security Conference. During the conference, they will talk about the different aspects of safety within the tourists industry. Illustrious experts, like Peter Tarlow, David Shepard, Anne Gallenger en Michael McDonald will give lectures on how safety aspects can be used within the tourism in the Caribbean region. Other subjects that will come up for discussion are the part of the media in case of a crisis, the safety during big events, and the safety in the air and on sea.

Myrna Jansen, director of ATA is elated that Aruba is the first country to organize this conference. “Our economy depends on the tourism. That does not only apply to Aruba, but the entire Caribbean region. Safety is the top priority for travelers. This conference is of great importance and it is great that it takes place in Aruba.” Jansen is convinced that countries that feel very strongly about the safety of tourists and at the same time continue to maintain the level of service will see their tourists come back.

Jorge Pesquera, CEO of Ahata thinks that by organizing the safety conference, the image of Aruba will be highlighted. “Aruba is a safe country and we do our utmost to stay safe.”

Criminal law scholars slate police investigation Holloway
Amigoe
4/8/2006

ARUBA/THE HAGUE – Dutch experts call the investigation method on the disappeared Natalee Holloway strange and unprofessional. They also criticize the actions of the Aruban interim chief of police Gerold Dompig, who got taken off the case last Thursday.

“I cannot understand that the police didn’t immediately search the location of Natalee’s body right after a very important tip”, said Menno Dolman, university professor criminal law in Amsterdam before the GPD (Associated Press Services) in the Netherlands. The location in the sand hills that was searched last week was kept undisturbed for weeks; this could have cost important traces to be lost.

It was not until one month after an anonymous person had called Dompig on the phone and while crying told the chief of police about the location where Natalee’s body was buried that the Aruban authorities came into action. “That is very peculiar”, agreed the law psychologist Peter van Koppen from Maastricht. “Usually, the area gets cordoned off immediately, in order to dig and obtain samples.”

Before they even started to dig, Dompig was already talking to the media about the new indications and the next search. A plain ‘disturbing’ action, is the opinion of criminal law professor in Leiden, Hans Nijboer. “This is a first class mistake.” He says that it is ungodly to talk in public about concrete indication, yet before the search started. “Competent detectives investigate the case first, before they talk to the media.”

For a detective, the media is the last option, explained Dolman to GPD-journalist Floor Ligtvoet. “You do not want to give away information that only the perpetrator may know. If that still happens, it becomes extremely awkward to know whether the details in a later declaration of the suspect are authentic or whether he had read it in the paper.”

It seems that Dompig didn’t care much about this. He large-heartedly scatters with details about the case. But the facts and theories that he opens also contradict each other. He told the American media that Holloway has probably died of an overdose of alcohol and drugs that she had consumed that night. However, he denied that before the Dutch media and came up with a new report. Natalee was most probably raped and killed; that’s what he told them.

These two versions are incompatible, is the opinion of Dolman. He suspects that Dompig used several reports to keep the media on a distance. “It might also be an investigation strategy and Dompig is now drawing off suspects and their environment. Soon as one of them gives away, he runs him/her in”, said Van Koppen.

Dolman does not believe in such strategy. “When a detective tells everyone where the body is, that’s no longer a strategy”, says Dolman. It is more a last option in a deadlocked investigation and the media is being used to settle the investigation smoothly.

The article was printed in amongst others the Brabants Dagblad.

High Commissioner mr. Bernadina explains:
It was Commissioner Gerold Dompig himself who asked to be removed from the Holloway case
DIARIO Aruba
4/7/2006

ORANJESTAD (AAN) -- DIARIO interviewed High Commissioner mr. Ronny Bernadina, related with the changes that arose surrounding the investigation of the case of the disappearance of the American student, Natalee Holloway, which is still underway.

The High Commissioner explained that the police force designates the persons who will work on certain cases, and in this case, Commissioner Gerold Dompig was working on this investigation, but what happened is that last Monday, Mr. Dompig approached Mr. Bernadina, and asked for his retirement as lead investigator on the tactical aspects of the Holloway case.

Bernadina explained that when such a case presents itself, all the responsibility goes to the Public Prosecutor.

The High Commissioner said that he doesn’t want to go into details on the reasons why Mr. Dompig took such a decision, but mr. Bernadina made it be known that he sat down with the Attorney General already and they put another person at the head of the investigation. The High Commissioner reiterated that Mr. Gerold Dompig himself asked to be removed.

The High Commissioner indicated that the team is actually the one that does the main task, and not the tactical guide.

Currently, the investigative team is reinforced by the help of Holland, in what refers to the technical, material and search aspects, which is much appreciated.
These are parts that come into play in the ‘procesverbaal’ and that at any given moment, the Public Prosecutor has to present to the judge, and this will not bring any problems for the investigation process.

About the fact that Mr. Dompig is no longer assistant [deputy] to mr. Bernadina anymore, the latter said that every year there are changes in this position, and it had to have happened last January, and in this case, Commissioner Krozendijk is mr. Bernadina’s replacement for this year and for 2007 they will name another person. He emphasized that this is a clarification he wanted to make.

Dompig no longer on Holloway-case
Amigoe
4/7/2006

ARUBA - Since the beginning of this week, the Aruban Chief of Police is no longer the leader of the team that investigates the disappearance of Natalie Holloway.

Spokesperson of the Public Prosecutor, Marianne Croes mentioned today that Dompig was taken off the case, but didn't want to say why. According to Croes, all the four district chiefs of police have been assigned a new portfolio. Holloway has been missing since May of 2005. Dompig was the second leader of the investigation team. The first one was Jan van der Straten, who retired and is the chief of police in Bonaire for the period of one year.

While he doesn’t want to give a lot of information
Gerold Dompig said that information given about his demotion is not true
He referred us to High Commissioner Bernadina for more information
Bon Dia Aruba
4/6/2006

ORANJESTAD – It is not true that Gerold Dompig was demoted in his functions as some media outlets published yesterday. After many attempts, Bon Dia Aruba was able to contact the Commissioner, who did not want to give out too much information, but categorically denied that the information published was true. Further, the Commissioner did not want to talk and referred us to High Commissioner Bernadina.

DEMOTED

This situation became more interesting, given that Dompig denied that he was already demoted. An investigation Bon Dia Aruba conducted, demonstrates that Dompig himself approached High Commissioner Ronny Bernadina to ask to be pulled as head of the case, and leave him only as a consultant. This was based on purely personal reasons. This conversation between the High Commissioner and Dompig must’ve taken place last Monday, according to Bon Dia Aruba’s understanding. Again Dompig was approached, but he indicated that Mr. Bernadina was the one who had to give this information.

NORMAL PROCEDURES

The fact that he was demoted as interim Korpschef does not make sense either, because it is normal procedure that every year the interim korpschef is changed in a rotation system. And here Dompig acted as interim last year and also the first quarter of this year. As such, he has to cede his function to another commissioner. It is pure coincidence that this happened this way.

LACK OF COMMUNICATION

Anyway, the situation is that there is a lack of communication about this whole matter, where the Minister is not up to date of what is happening in the police force and is declaring things that do not make sense on the street. Bon Dia Aruba will continue to keep an eye on this matter and see how this information be interpreted in the central circles of Aruba.

Gerold Dompig remains spokesperson but not head of the Natalee Holloway investigative team
Bon Dia Aruba
4/6/2006

ORANJESTAD – Commissioner Gerold Dompig remains as the person in charge of the investigation of the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. This was declared yesterday morning by Minister Rudy Croes during a press conference. At the same time, the Minister indicated that although h preferred for inspector Dolfi Richardson to be the spokesperson for this case, Richardson himself asked for Dompig to remain the spokesperson, due to his knowledge of the case. As such, Dompig was re-appointed as spokesperson for this case.

MEDIA

It was yesterday that a few media outlets reported that Gerold Dompig will no longer be at the head of the investigation, and that he wouldn’t be the spokesperson either, and finally that he wouldn’t be acting interim High Commissioner. A question from Bon Dia Aruba indicated that according to the Minister, this information was not known by him, and that as far as he knows, Dompig remains spokesperson and the one in charge of the investigation.

ROTATING POSITION

Where there really were changes was that the Minister obtained counsel from High Commissioner Bernadina to name Coizy Krozendijk as interim High Commissioner, replacing Commissioner Dompig. This is something normal, due to the fact that he decided to rotate this position every year. Last year was Dompig’s year, and this year it has to change, but the change had not taken place. When Minister Croes asked Bernadina how much time he wants for the change to take place, Bernadina said that it could take place immediately, that is to say, this past 1st of April.

NEWS REFUTED

With this, the Minister of justice wants to refute the news that Dompig was already stripped of his functions and responsibilities, as some media outlets published previously yesterday morning.

Serious accusation from American journalist
MSNBC producer connects possible ‘witness’ with high ranked policeman
Bon Dia Aruba
4/6/2006

ORANJESTAD—The fact that there is another commissioner in charge of the investigation of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway led to some speculation about what was the real motive. These speculations took life especially in the American media, which in one way or the other continues with a twisted view about Aruba.

Bon Dia Aruba received information that a producer from the cable channel MSNBC made a connection between a supposed drug dealer, B.N., and Natalee Holloway, given that the former admitted to selling drugs to the latter. The problem is, according to this producer, that this person is Commissioner Dompig’s brother-in-law. The American journalist related the whole conversation he had with B.N., in the presence of Fred Golba, who recently was still in Aruba, under the request of Commissioner Dompig himself. Among other things, one of the investigators in the investigative team admitted to the journalist that B.N. is a person of interest, and that he gave Fred Golba the freedom to investigate him, but not officially. The police never let Golba conduct an official investigation.

According to the MSNBC producer, B.N. is known on the beach in front of Moomba. He himself was present when B.N. was selling cocaine and marijuana. “Police were passing by, but never even saw what was happening”, the reporter said in a letter which arrived at Bon Dia Aruba. So much so that B.N. even showed Fred Golba a ‘hiding place’ from where he was able to see Natalee’s hotel room, according to the American producer.

B.N. related too that he knew beforehand of the Alabama group’s travels, and that Natalee approached him to buy drugs. Here, the journalist quoted B.N. saying that Natalee even asked for alcohol (something which is not logical, given that the Alabama group had an ‘all inclusive’ package which also included alcohol). Following the American journalist’s account in a letter, B.N. procured for the whole Alabama group to obtain access to drugs during their stay in Aruba. B.N. went into detail about everything to do with Natalee and the group with the journalist, and this whole conversation was recorded. The same member of the investigative team who was in contact with the journalist asked for this recording, given that the team did not have all these details. But the reporter did not give him the recording.

It was interesting that B.N. said to the American gentleman that he knows more about the case, but that only money would make him talk.

It has to be said that it is not the first time that Bon Dia Aruba has heard of this person B.N., however, there was no way to obtain official confirmation of what exactly was his involvement and whether the relation he has to Commissioner Dompig plays a role in this investigation or not.

In any case, he got in contact with Fred Golba, who mentioned him to the MSNBC reporter. His reaction was that [with?] the journalist is frustrated and that B.N. has a kid’s mind. “You can quote me. A parrot has more consciousness than B.N.”, Golba said to Bon Dia Aruba.

In what relates to the journalist, Golba said that he really did meet with him in Aruba, and even brought him to the police station once. But now that the reporter didn’t get what he wanted, he started to act irritated. Golba is not aware if there truly was a conversation between the journalist and B.N., or if there was really an exchange of drugs. “If I was aware of this, I would have gone to police immediately”, Golba assured Bon Dia Aruba. “The authorities are doing the best they can, under the current circumstances. B.N., in my mind, is not a person that can be counted on”. He also got in touch with the investigative team to see what their comments were, and the only reaction that he found was that they could not say anything. Bon Dia Aruba is aware that in the past they have already spoken with B.N. and that they are aware of his statements. What’s more, B.N. called other reporters (local) to say that he knows what happened to Natalee Holloway. But this person never really concretized what he wanted to say.

Dutch criminal law scholars express
Big criticism about Aruban investigation in the case of Natalee Holloway
DIARIO Aruba
4/6/2006

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Dutch criminal law experts recently expressed big criticism about the Aruban police investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway
They call the investigation methods strange and unprofessional. They expressed much criticism as well about Commissioner Gerold Dompig’s behavior.

“It is incomprehensible that police, after an important tip about the location of Natalee Holloway’s body, to not go search immediately.”

This is according to a criminal law scholar of the University of Amsterdam, Menno Dolman.

The place in the dunes where they searched last week was left alone for long weeks, which could have made that important tips be lost.

It was a month after that an anonymous man called Dompig in tears with information about where the body of Natalee was buried, that authorities sprung into action.

“This is very strange”, according to a legal psychologist, Peter van Koppen. “Normally the area is closed off immediately, to dig and search for clues, but not in Aruba”.

Before police started to search, Dompig spoke openly with the press about new clues and another search which was on the way.

“Total madness”, according to a criminal law expert of the University of Leiden, Hans Nijboer. “This is a total error”.

According to Nijboer it is against all principles and illogical to bring forth details of the tips, before starting the search. Competent investigators investigate the case.

“The media is the last option for investigators”, according to Dolman. “You do not give out information that only the guilty could know.

If this happens, then it becomes very troublesome to know if the details in the declarations are authentic or if the person read this in the newspapers”.

According to the Dutch article, Dompig does not appear worried about these details. He gave details of the case easily to the press. However, the facts and the theories of which he spoke, contradict each other.

He said that he believes that Natalee perished due to an overdose of a combination of alcohol and drugs, that she consumed on the night of her disappearance.

However, in an interview with a Dutch newspaper, he said that he believes that Natalee lost her life as a victim of a criminal act (rape and murder).

According to Dolman, these two versions contradict each other. Dolman suspects that Dompig did this to keep the media at bay.

According to van Koppen, perhaps this is an investigation tactic on the part of Dompig, where he is now tapping the suspects’ conversation along with their friends and families, in order to catch something perhaps during a telephone conversation. Dolman doesn’t believe in a tactical action of such magnitude. According to Dolma, this is done for a stalled case.

Parliamentary committee Tourism is waiting for action plan
Amigoe
4/6/2006

ARUBA - The Parliamentary committee Tourism is waiting since late January for the action plan drawn up by the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) to reverse the dramatic downturn in the tourism. At that time, the ATA had already sent the plan to minister Edison Briesen of Tourism and Transportation for forwarding, but the committee had still not received the plan, says AVP-parliamentarian Andy Lee. The committee had even sent a reminder letter.

"Briesen's way of acting makes one feel dubious about his capacities to shape the tourism in Aruba proactively and dynamically", said Lee. He is of the opinion that the action plan is highly necessary. The manager of the airport said that the tourism had dropped with 1 percent in January and February and the tourism figures had dropped drastically since August. ATA's PR-plan should return Aruba's positive image in the United States. What the plan is going to cost will exceed ATA's budget and the 2006 budget has not been submitted yet. Lee is of the opinion that the minister should act more decisively. "It has become clear that Briesen is not really interested in the actual tourism figures, and they are still not up-to-date. Therefore we do not know yet to what extend the total tourists have dropped in the first months of 2006 and what influence it had on the economy of Aruba since the second half of 2005. Now that there is a plan to improve the image of Aruba in the US, this same minister doesn't take actions and leaves everything as is."

Public Prosecution will not use Deepak Kalpoe in reenactment but will use his car
Bon Dia Aruba
4/5/2006

ORANJESTAD – The attorney for Deepak and Satish Kalpoe was stunned by the fact that the prosecutor gave an order to seize his client’s car last week to use as a ‘prop’ in a case of reenactment of a possible crime. ‘Stunned that the prosecutor wants to use an artifact as in a movie, to recreate a situation as realistically as possible, that they have to have Deepak Kalpoe’s original car’, Kock declared on American television this week.

CAR RETURNED

The fact that they returned the car to his client does not take away that there’s a pending case to question the prosecutor and the judge commissioner where they have to be formally question about this action. Particularly, if the prosecutor had the right to do this and what the consequences of this will be. ‘It is a totally unfounded action’, Kock continued to say.

REENACTMENT

A point that is very remarkable is that the attorney confirmed that in the reenactment they are using actors to play the role of his client. However at no time are they using his client, which is a normal process. As such, he doesn’t understand if they are not using the clients for the reenactment, why are they not using a car that resembles his client’s car, and decided to use his exact car. It is something that is not logical. Something about which the attorney has no answer either.

EXACT CAR

According to the attorney, the fact that they are using the exact car, will not make a person react 10 months later, in a way that now he does remember something to solve this case. Another question is the fact of who controls the editorial content of the program which is pre-recorded. ‘I don’t see prosecutor Janssen directing the cameras’, Kock continued to say.

SEE PROGRAM

While the program will be available here in Aruba via BVN, attorney Kock does not believe that it will generate the reaction that the program has to generate. ‘I don’t believe that people will see the program 10 months after the act, and come forward to say with exactitude what happened in the case’, Kock continued to say.

ORIGINAL CAR

Kock also noted that he feels the program will take the step to look for the original car. However, his clients have nothing to hide. It’s not that he wants to protect them from this, but it is the manner in which they want to use information via the car, it is simply an abuse of power according to Kock. At the same time, Kock doesn’t have any indication that the investigation is moving forward or is progressing. They explored things which have already done in the past. ‘When you are going on such a show, you want to bring old things old things forward and bring life into them again’, Kock finally said.

Host of the program Opsporing Vermist Anniko van Zanten explains:
In the case of Natalee Holloway there are many holes that need to be filled
This is what the program has to try to solve when it goes on the air
Bon Dia Aruba
4/5/2006

ORANJESTAD – The Dutch television group AVRO, which produces the Dutch program ‘Opsporing Vermist’ [sic – Verzocht?] hopes that via this program, there will be people who come forward and declare something which they remember after watching the program when it will air next week, Tuesday, April 11. Something that according to the host, Anniko van Zanten, is a big possibility given their reputation of 23 years on the air.

HISTORY

According to van Zanten, the program has its history, when it started 23 years ago. It can be compared to the American program ‘America’s Most Wanted’, every week this program airs different programs based on crimes committed, where it is not known who the author of the crime is. The intention of the program is to get the attention of certain people who could have information and can come forward with this information to solve the crime in question.

HOLLOWAY

The episode on the Holloway case, is to clearly seek help from the Dutch public (although the local Aruban market will also see it) to see if they could have any type of valuable information to share with the producers of the show. In this case, they reenacted Natalee Holloway’s vacation in Aruba.

TWO GOALS

According to van Zanten, the program has two goals. The have to help people identify with this group and give them the indication that they have to come forward with any information they may have. Also, it has to work as a trigger for people’s memories to remember things that the person could remember now, that they couldn’t remember a year ago. All this is based on real facts, compared to speculation and possibilities.

HOLES FILLED

The program serves to close holes in an investigation. ‘And in this case, there are many holes’, said van Zanten. As such, people will be able to say that there is a minimal possibility that they can find something about Holloway. ‘However, there are many Dutch visitors in Aruba and the history of the show demonstrates that people see things that end up being crucial to solving a case, without having any notion of this’, van Zanten said. Until the program is seen, then the memory comes back. This is what van Zanten will try to accomplish with this program.

AOL survey shows that 72% less Americans are likely to visit Aruba now
DIARIO Aruba
4/5/2006

ORANJESTAD(AAN): It was a hard knock that Aruba took yesterday from subscribers to AOL, ‘American Online’ which is the largest Internet provider in the U.S. They participated in a survey and it indicated that the majority of them do not want to come to Aruba anymore!

Before commenting on this, DIARIO commented on a recent reportage from CBS News in the U.S. which conducted an investigation, to see how much the disappearance of Natalee Holloway is affecting Aruba’s tourism.

In an article, CBS News says that Aruba is very beautiful and that it is not surprising that tourism makes up 85% of Aruba’s economy, where 800,000 American tourists visit Aruba every year.

However, one of these Americans, Natalee Holloway disappeared 10 months ago. While the young American is being searched for once again, it seems that the constant news of Natalee’s disappearance has hit Aruba hard in the pocketbook.

According to a tourist, Jill Williams, when she told people in the U.S. that she was going to Aruba for Spring Break, they looked at her very surprised.

The article continues to say that Rob Smith of the Aruba Hospitality and Security Foundation also said that the peaceful island that he so loves, perhaps is suffering due to this case.

He said that the case is perhaps affecting our global integrity. Smith continued to say that after 10 years of growth in tourism, suddenly this has stopped. “I believe that many people think that Aruba is not safe, however, Aruba is safe”.

When the reporter from CBS News, Solorzano, approached 4 young Americans on vacation in Aruba and asked them if they feel safe on the island, they all said that without a doubt they feel very safe in Aruba.

A few teenagers with whom Solorzano spoke said that the disappearance of Natalee made them more prudent, but this didn’t stop their families from coming to Aruba.

Tourist and father Ed Williams said to the CBS reporter: “100% we believe that it is safe and we feel that Arubans did everything possible to try to solve the mystery.”

Rob Smith explained that perhaps other factors contributed to tourism being lower than normal, such as the fact the cost of accommodations is higher, while many Americans were affected by and worried about the hurricane season.

AOL SURVEY

However, America Online now has a survey on their web site and asks: ‘How likely are you to visit Aruba since Natalee Holloway vanished?’

The answer that no native son wants to hear follows: ‘less likely than before’ is ahead with 72%, at the time when some 75,000 people gave their opinion on this online survey, which is not a scientific one. Millions of Americans who are members of AOL saw this survey which appeared in large format on their computer screens.

Although Arubans do not feel this is fair, now the moment has arrived to conclude that perhaps the mismanagement of island leaders, as well as some in the judicial field, who do not know how to correctly deal with the American media, can be guilty of this ‘lack of good judgment’.

For you to raise your voice and tell our main clients (Americans) for them to kiss our behinds, is very probably what has put us in the position to start to feel the economic pain that is barely now showing itself.

Pray some more. Hotel workers already know how the real situation is from last week! Many were sent home because ‘there is no work to be done’. Now, in April, occupation is this bad. How will it be this coming May?

He won’t be saying anything more on the Natalee Holloway case
Commissioner Dompig practically without power
Dolfi Richardson now heads Natalee Holloway case
DIARIO Aruba
4/5/2006

ORANJESTAD(AAN): What is happening was a question to which we wanted an answer.

In the afternoon hours of Tuesday, DIARIO was able to obtain confirmation of the news on which Monday, DIARIO reporters asked the High Commissioner about, but he refused [to answer] or didn’t want to say anything.

We continued to look for information and it results that Commissioner Gerold Dompig is not at the head of the investigation into the case of Natalee Holloway. Neither is the substitute High Commissioner, now that Mr. Ronny Bernadina is no longer there.

Although it has been heard that there is discontent with Commissioner Gerold Dompig’s handing [of the case], on the other hand it has been heard that there are changes underway in the whole system of districts and commissioners because it’s not good the way it is now.

The way it is, four islands have them [?], and this has not worked. Now, each commissioner will be in charge of one task which they will obtain from the High Commissioner and the Minister also has to be aware of this.

Aside that the case of the young Holloway has brought enough problems within the Public Prosecution, it has also brought problems within the core of the police department.

How sane it is for Aruba to put and removed commissioners on the Natalee Holloway case is not yet known, but the perception is that it is not very good.

This coming Monday, the changes that High Commissioner Bernadina introduced will officially be enacted, but already as of yesterday, they started working on the basis of these changes.

Soon each commissioner will have one task and the issue that each one manages a district will be a thing of the past.

The reorganization did not take a good turn in the police force and now High Commissioner Ronny Bernadina is adapting this in his way.

More and more high income tourists to Aruba
Amigoe
4/5/2006

The European market is a growth market for Aruba. Therefore, there is a lot of advertisement for the island in this market. Minister Edison Briesen cut an Aruban cake recently during the biggest tourist market ITB in Germany.

ARUBA – According to minister Edison Briesen (MEP) of Tourism and Transportation, Aruba more and more manages to attract richer tourists. The figures of the Central Bureau for Statistics show this. The minister anticipates that this can be stimulated even more with the completion of the special department of the Airport for private-airplanes.

The figures show that 19 percent of the tourists that visited Aruba in the second quarter make more that 100.000 dollars per year. In 2001 and 2002 was this 13 and 10 percent respectively. The number of visitors that make less than 50.000 dollars per year dropped from 40.7 percent in 2001 to 24 percent in 2005.

However, the biggest group of visitors is the ones that make between the 50 and 75 thousand dollars per year. Therefore, Aruba has to aim for the upscale-market, says Briesen. The special terminal and runway for private planes will be complete in July. People with private planes will then have their own immigration, customs, shoppes, and cafeteria. They will no longer have to be taken to the other side by bus, and stand in long immigration lines. They will be out in 15 minutes.” Briesen also hopes to attract more luxurious mega-yachts.

The tourist sector has to go along with the trends. The American tourist for example takes shorter vacation, like three nights for example. Briesen understands that hotels prefer to sell six-nights packages, but still, we have to also go along with this trend. He warns that the competition becomes bigger for Aruba. “For example in Dubai they are building five- to six-star hotels. They even create new islands over there. Their product is same as ours: son.” He doesn’t worry so much about the competition of cheaper destinations in the region like Cuba, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. “We are more upscale than most of the other countries. The safety plays a bigger part, especially after 9/11. But, of all the Caribbean islands, we are the one that is farther away from our biggest market, so that continues to be a big challenge for us.”

Public Prosecution distances itself from the article in Algemeen Dagblad
Bon Dia Aruba
4/4/2006

ORANJESTAD – The spokesperson for the Public Prosecution, drs. Mariaine Croes reacted to an article that Algemeen Dagblad published Saturday, April 1, 2006. The title of the article is: ‘Search for Natalee by satellite’. Drs. Croes made it be known to Bon Dia Aruba that in this case, a police worker made these statements to a reporter from Algemeen Dagblad. The Public Prosecution distances itself completely from the content of the statements made by the police officer. Also, the Public Prosecution distances itself emphatically of the fact that these statements were made, who they were made by.

Drs. Croes explains that in dealing with the press, the Public Prosecution is always aware of the following points:

- the protection of the privacy of the suspects and witnesses;

- the fact that you have to avoid dealing with a case through the media, and not speak regarding the supposed culpability of the suspects;

- always have to avoid damage to an ongoing criminal investigation.

Given that the Public Prosecution observes the points mentioned above, the giving of information in specific cases by the Public Prosecution is limited.