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.
4.05.2006
Although it is not the final report and there is still no decision taken as to who will be prosecuted
Prosecutor handed over to the Court report related to the investigation into Joran van der Sloot
Bon Dia Aruba
4/4/2006
ORANJESTAD – Yesterday, chief prosecutor Janssen went to the court building to deliver to the clerk a report related to the criminal investigation that the Holloway investigative team conducted on Joran van der Sloot.
NOT A FINAL REPORT
An investigation conducted by Bon Dia Aruba shows that the report that mr. Janssen delivered to the court clerk is not the final report of the criminal investigation. Since there are still investigations taking place, it is difficult for mr. Janssen to comply with the verdict of the Curaçao judge in the case of damages for prejudice that mr. Paul van der Sloot started against the government.
This is how last moth, the judge, in his interim verdict, instructed chief prosecutor mr. Janssen to hand over the procesverbaal dealing with the criminal investigation into Joran van der Sloot, at the latest on the 3 of April. The reason the judge instructed mr. Janssen to hand over the procesverbaal was on the basis of mr. Janssen’s own statements during the case proceedings. The judge, in his verdict, showed that mr. Janssen said that in March 2005 [sic 2006?] the procesverbaal on the investigation on the Holloway case will be closed and also that the Public Prosecutor will take a decision whether they will prosecute people or not.
NO DECISION TO PROSECUTE
An investigation conducted by Bon Dia Aruba shoes that chief prosecutor mr. Janssen handed over the report related to the criminal investigation, but still has not taken a decision whether she will prosecute the suspects or not. This is due to the situation that still the investigation hasn’t been closed and still the final report is not closed.
Now that the report has been delivered, mr. Swaen, who is the attorney of the van der Sloot family in this case, will have to react to the report and has to hand over this reaction by April 17, at the latest. The judge will analyze these and on the 1st of May he will hand over the verdict.
Given the fact that mr. Janssen did not completely comply with the judge’s instructions, it is not known what will be the judge’s reaction. There are two possibilities. Prosecutor mr. Janssen will notify the judge about the situation and the judge will decide according to this report or the judge will say that the report is not sufficient and wants mr. Janssen to comply with what he instructed.
Time will tell what will happen. The fact is that chief prosecutor mr. Janssen handed over a report related to the criminal investigation into Joran van der Sloot.
Prosecutor handed over to the Court report related to the investigation into Joran van der Sloot
Bon Dia Aruba
4/4/2006
ORANJESTAD – Yesterday, chief prosecutor Janssen went to the court building to deliver to the clerk a report related to the criminal investigation that the Holloway investigative team conducted on Joran van der Sloot.
NOT A FINAL REPORT
An investigation conducted by Bon Dia Aruba shows that the report that mr. Janssen delivered to the court clerk is not the final report of the criminal investigation. Since there are still investigations taking place, it is difficult for mr. Janssen to comply with the verdict of the Curaçao judge in the case of damages for prejudice that mr. Paul van der Sloot started against the government.
This is how last moth, the judge, in his interim verdict, instructed chief prosecutor mr. Janssen to hand over the procesverbaal dealing with the criminal investigation into Joran van der Sloot, at the latest on the 3 of April. The reason the judge instructed mr. Janssen to hand over the procesverbaal was on the basis of mr. Janssen’s own statements during the case proceedings. The judge, in his verdict, showed that mr. Janssen said that in March 2005 [sic 2006?] the procesverbaal on the investigation on the Holloway case will be closed and also that the Public Prosecutor will take a decision whether they will prosecute people or not.
NO DECISION TO PROSECUTE
An investigation conducted by Bon Dia Aruba shoes that chief prosecutor mr. Janssen handed over the report related to the criminal investigation, but still has not taken a decision whether she will prosecute the suspects or not. This is due to the situation that still the investigation hasn’t been closed and still the final report is not closed.
Now that the report has been delivered, mr. Swaen, who is the attorney of the van der Sloot family in this case, will have to react to the report and has to hand over this reaction by April 17, at the latest. The judge will analyze these and on the 1st of May he will hand over the verdict.
Given the fact that mr. Janssen did not completely comply with the judge’s instructions, it is not known what will be the judge’s reaction. There are two possibilities. Prosecutor mr. Janssen will notify the judge about the situation and the judge will decide according to this report or the judge will say that the report is not sufficient and wants mr. Janssen to comply with what he instructed.
Time will tell what will happen. The fact is that chief prosecutor mr. Janssen handed over a report related to the criminal investigation into Joran van der Sloot.
4.04.2006
To use in their program Opsporing Verzocht dedicated to the Holloway case
Dutch film crew continued their taping over the weekend in Oranjestad
Yesterday Carlos & Charlies street closed to film in front of the establishment
Bon Dia Aruba
4/3/2006
ORANJESTAD – During the weekend, the dutch television team from Opsporing Vermist of VARA continued with their taping in Aruba for the program which will air on the coming April 11 on Dutch television. They continued with their taping in the Oranjestad area, both Saturday and Sunday. All this was as a plan to tape the reenactment of the case of Natalee Holloway. The filming will continue today and some more days in order for them to finish up this week and return to Holland.
POLICE
The presence of some official agents were ‘accompanying’ the film crew could be noted. It was interesting to observe how the American reporters, among others FOX and CBS, came in contact with the Dutch film crew and how one was filming the other doing their work. One thing was for certain, that was the attention that the filming drew on the street this past weekend. Yesterday, they closed the street in order to be able to do their taping in front of Carlos & Charlies. In the collection of photographs, one can see the filming moments.
Using radars, dogs and more sophisticated equipment
Dutch search teams continue their work in the dunes over the weekend
They still haven’t located anything concrete related to the Holloway case
Bon Dia Aruba
4/3/2006
ORANJESTAD – During the weekend, work for the search of Natalee Holloway continued in Aruba. From Wednesday, the work for the search intensified with the special group from Holland which came with a total of 11 persons and 2 special dogs to search, and continued over the weekend. Their focus this weekend was around the Lighthouse dunes. But they still haven’t located anything concrete of the Holloway person.
SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT
It was of note during the weekend how the search was planned, using sophisticated equipment, such as a subterranean radar, which registers specific activity underground. At the same time, helicopters were used to survey along with the radar as well. Another group was in charge of the dogs, but it could be noted that one dog was used at a time.
SYSTEMATIC WORK
The manner in how they let the dogs work was systematic. Certain terrain was marked with long blue ‘spaca’ [lines?], where the dog had to stay inside and leave all that was found. Tied with a pretty long chain and with assistance from its trainer, the dog was smelling around where he believed it was necessary.
PRESS
Another person who was in the action was those who have to cover certain locations that the dog indicated. But again, nothing was achieved. As long as this work was happening, a group of police on quad-racers was watching over and controlling the work of this Dutch team. For security reasons, the press was not allowed to come too close, more so for the protection of the work being done, and for the dogs’ concentration.
It was at a distance that certain members of the press were able to cover this search, as the photographs indicate. The search will continue for one more week, before the Dutch team returns to Holland another week.
4.03.2006
A request goes out to the lady who called policeman Soemers, for her to call back
Bon Dia Aruba
4/1/2006
ORANJESTAD—Commissioner Dompig sends out a notice to the lady who called Mr. Eric Soemers, for her to call back. According to Mr. Dompig, this lady called Mr. Eric Soemers who is in the Natalee Holloway investigative team, and later said that she will call him back.
Until today the lady hasn’t called back. Commissioner Dompig calls out for this lady to call back Mr. Soemers because he said that it is very important to the investigation. If she cannot find Mr. Soemers, she can call Mr. Dompig himlsef at xxx-xxxx.
Bon Dia Aruba
4/1/2006
ORANJESTAD—Commissioner Dompig sends out a notice to the lady who called Mr. Eric Soemers, for her to call back. According to Mr. Dompig, this lady called Mr. Eric Soemers who is in the Natalee Holloway investigative team, and later said that she will call him back.
Until today the lady hasn’t called back. Commissioner Dompig calls out for this lady to call back Mr. Soemers because he said that it is very important to the investigation. If she cannot find Mr. Soemers, she can call Mr. Dompig himlsef at xxx-xxxx.
Indicating that the reason for the seizure was for reenactment of case for Dutch TV
Judge rejects complaint from Deepak Kalpoe’s attorney related to the seizure of his car
Kalpoe will get his car back Monday at the latest
Bon Dia Aruba
4/1/2006
ORANJESTAD – The car of the suspect in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, Deepak Kalpoe, will remain in custody until at least Monday. This is what the judge involved in the case decided yesterday morning. It was when the car was taken into custody by the Public Prosecutor, last Thursday, that Kalpoe’s defense attorney, David Kock, sent a complaint about the Public Prosecutor.
CHIEF PROSECUTOR
It was the chief prosecutor’s turn to defend herself against this complaint, and the judge heard both sides. This is where the prosecutor explained to the judge that the reason for the seizure was to have access to the car as part of the plan for the reenactment of the Holloway case, for Dutch film crews who are in Aruba for the reenactment.
She used the term ‘onderzoeksbelang’ [research importance] since it will be used in the pre-recordings of Opsporing Verzocht.
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
In a conversation with the spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor, Mariaine Croes, she confirmed that the judge rejected the arguments of attorney Kock and declared the ‘beklag’ as unfounded.
As much as he was preparing himself for the case against the government on the matter of legal papers [work visa] for his client Deepak Kalpoe, now he has another problem to deal with.
AUTHORITIES
It was Thursday afternoon that authorities confiscated the Kalpoe car again, based on the investigation which is taking place now. As such, the lawyer wasn’t thinking of keeping quiet about this case either.
SEIZURE
It is Bon Dia Aruba’s understanding that initially it was believed that it had to do with the actual investigation that the Dutch are now conducting in Aruba, but it was for the Dutch film crew.
Judge rejects complaint from Deepak Kalpoe’s attorney related to the seizure of his car
Kalpoe will get his car back Monday at the latest
Bon Dia Aruba
4/1/2006
ORANJESTAD – The car of the suspect in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, Deepak Kalpoe, will remain in custody until at least Monday. This is what the judge involved in the case decided yesterday morning. It was when the car was taken into custody by the Public Prosecutor, last Thursday, that Kalpoe’s defense attorney, David Kock, sent a complaint about the Public Prosecutor.
CHIEF PROSECUTOR
It was the chief prosecutor’s turn to defend herself against this complaint, and the judge heard both sides. This is where the prosecutor explained to the judge that the reason for the seizure was to have access to the car as part of the plan for the reenactment of the Holloway case, for Dutch film crews who are in Aruba for the reenactment.
She used the term ‘onderzoeksbelang’ [research importance] since it will be used in the pre-recordings of Opsporing Verzocht.
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
In a conversation with the spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor, Mariaine Croes, she confirmed that the judge rejected the arguments of attorney Kock and declared the ‘beklag’ as unfounded.
As much as he was preparing himself for the case against the government on the matter of legal papers [work visa] for his client Deepak Kalpoe, now he has another problem to deal with.
AUTHORITIES
It was Thursday afternoon that authorities confiscated the Kalpoe car again, based on the investigation which is taking place now. As such, the lawyer wasn’t thinking of keeping quiet about this case either.
SEIZURE
It is Bon Dia Aruba’s understanding that initially it was believed that it had to do with the actual investigation that the Dutch are now conducting in Aruba, but it was for the Dutch film crew.
Taping the ‘reenactment’ of Natalee’s case
DIARIO
4/3/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Last Sunday night, using the car that Police confiscated for the weekend from the Kalpoe brothers, they held a ‘reenactment’ to record for Dutch TV.
DIARIO’s photographer barely had the chance to take a picture, given that 3 different American TV crews were standing around and they did not want to bother ‘Recherche Yearwood’.
Has the police force declared war against the local press?
They want more witnesses to come forward this way.
For this reason, starting today, DIARIO is giving key witnesses and ‘alternative’ to give information. Read page 3.
Deepak does not get his car back
Amigoe
4/3/2006
ARUBA – Deepak Kalpoe’s car will not be returned to him until Monday. The examining-magistrate decided in a lawsuit instituted by Kalpoe’s lawyer David Kock that the confiscation is not illegal, because the shootings for Opsporing Verzocht are of relevance to the investigation on the disappeared Natalee Holloway. The car, a grey Honda Civic was confiscated by the Public Prosecutor last Thursday afternoon. Their motivation to do this is that the program must reproduce the situation as real as possible. The program Opsporing Verzocht with the Holloway-case will be transmitted on Tuesday, April 11th.
Amigoe
4/3/2006
ARUBA – Deepak Kalpoe’s car will not be returned to him until Monday. The examining-magistrate decided in a lawsuit instituted by Kalpoe’s lawyer David Kock that the confiscation is not illegal, because the shootings for Opsporing Verzocht are of relevance to the investigation on the disappeared Natalee Holloway. The car, a grey Honda Civic was confiscated by the Public Prosecutor last Thursday afternoon. Their motivation to do this is that the program must reproduce the situation as real as possible. The program Opsporing Verzocht with the Holloway-case will be transmitted on Tuesday, April 11th.
4.01.2006
From the Dutch parody blog Geenstijl
Translate at your leisure - I don't speak Dutch.
Van der Sloot Burial Venture Ltd.
Resources:
Worldlingo
Babelfish
Translate at your leisure - I don't speak Dutch.
Van der Sloot Burial Venture Ltd.
Resources:
Worldlingo
Babelfish
Deepak’s car confiscated for shootings
Amigoe
3/31/2006
ARUBA – The Public Prosecutor (OM) confiscated Deepak Kalpoe’s car yesterday. The OM wants to use the car for the shootings of the TV-program Opsporing Verzocht that will spend time on the Holloway-case. Lawyer David Kock has meanwhile taken legal proceedings.
Deepak’s grey Honda Civic was confiscated yesterday afternoon. “I was astonished, especially when I heard for what reason”, said Kock. “They want to use Deepak’s car and so give the program a reproduction that is as real as possible. You would think that the OM can rent a similar car, or show a picture of it.” The lawyer said this morning that he has instituted a lawsuit that will serve today. In any case, the car will stay with the OM till Monday.
With the effort of the program, the OM hopes to give the investigation an impulse. Both Aruba and the Netherlands can watch the program on Tuesday, April 11th.
Via that TV-program, viewers are requested for their help with the investigation. A reconstruction of the night in which Natalee disappeared and her activities in the days before will be shown in the program. They will show at a slow pace the places she was possibly seen. People that were on the island at the time of her disappearance and also the days after and that might know anything about her disappearance, are requested to give the information they have. The investigation team anticipates that there are people that have important information on the case, but that have never before come forwards with their information. Informers can give their information anonymously if desired via telephone, against local rates, or internet. They can do this in Dutch, Papiamento, and English. The Public Prosecutor emphasizes that it takes just one crucial tip to give the investigation an impulse.
The program exists for 22 years already and solves at this moment 30 percent of the transmitted cases. The Public Prosecutor of Aruba, the Police Corps of Aruba, the Federal Police services, the Police of Utrecht, and the AVRO are all participating in the program. The World Service will broadcast the program also in Aruba on BVN on April 11th, only a few minutes after the live broadcast at 21:30 Holland time. In connection with the time difference, the program will be repeated a few hours later. They are also striving for the local TV-stations in Aruba to transmit the program. The program is in Dutch with Papiamento subtitles.
The police dogs and their guides of the Dutch police started their search for the missing Natalee Holloway last Wednesday. They search the sand hills near the California lighthouse and other locations, like the Fisherman’s Huts.
The American media have sent several TV-teams to Aruba to follow these searches at first hand.
Amigoe
3/31/2006
ARUBA – The Public Prosecutor (OM) confiscated Deepak Kalpoe’s car yesterday. The OM wants to use the car for the shootings of the TV-program Opsporing Verzocht that will spend time on the Holloway-case. Lawyer David Kock has meanwhile taken legal proceedings.
Deepak’s grey Honda Civic was confiscated yesterday afternoon. “I was astonished, especially when I heard for what reason”, said Kock. “They want to use Deepak’s car and so give the program a reproduction that is as real as possible. You would think that the OM can rent a similar car, or show a picture of it.” The lawyer said this morning that he has instituted a lawsuit that will serve today. In any case, the car will stay with the OM till Monday.
With the effort of the program, the OM hopes to give the investigation an impulse. Both Aruba and the Netherlands can watch the program on Tuesday, April 11th.
Via that TV-program, viewers are requested for their help with the investigation. A reconstruction of the night in which Natalee disappeared and her activities in the days before will be shown in the program. They will show at a slow pace the places she was possibly seen. People that were on the island at the time of her disappearance and also the days after and that might know anything about her disappearance, are requested to give the information they have. The investigation team anticipates that there are people that have important information on the case, but that have never before come forwards with their information. Informers can give their information anonymously if desired via telephone, against local rates, or internet. They can do this in Dutch, Papiamento, and English. The Public Prosecutor emphasizes that it takes just one crucial tip to give the investigation an impulse.
The program exists for 22 years already and solves at this moment 30 percent of the transmitted cases. The Public Prosecutor of Aruba, the Police Corps of Aruba, the Federal Police services, the Police of Utrecht, and the AVRO are all participating in the program. The World Service will broadcast the program also in Aruba on BVN on April 11th, only a few minutes after the live broadcast at 21:30 Holland time. In connection with the time difference, the program will be repeated a few hours later. They are also striving for the local TV-stations in Aruba to transmit the program. The program is in Dutch with Papiamento subtitles.
The police dogs and their guides of the Dutch police started their search for the missing Natalee Holloway last Wednesday. They search the sand hills near the California lighthouse and other locations, like the Fisherman’s Huts.
The American media have sent several TV-teams to Aruba to follow these searches at first hand.
3.31.2006
Aruba Ends 2005 On A High Note With Over 4,000 More Travelers
Aruba.com
3/31/2006
Aruba announces another strong year for arrivals in 2005. According to the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), 2005 proved to be a solid year, attracting over 4,000more sun-seekers (totaling an astonishing 732,514 jetsetters) from around the world. An amazing 532,352 U.S. travelers hit Aruba’s white-sand shores last year, representing over 1,000 (.2%) additional visitors compared to 2004, making up 72.7% of the island’s total market share. Overall, 2005 held steady with a .6% increase in worldwide numbers over 2004. With hundreds of thousands of seasoned travelers and sun and sand devotees making the island their escape in 2005, Aruba remains one of the world’s number one hot-spots with a repeat visitor rate of over 40%, the highest of any Caribbean destination.
Many of Aruba’s amazing hotels and resorts saw significant increases in visitor numbers over 2004. The island’s boutique hotels soared, as the Bucuti Beach Resort & Tara Beach Suites posted a 9.97% increase. The Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa reported 10.20% spike, while larger properties like the Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino, boasted a 7.18% in growth. Time shares also fared well with The Divi Dutch Village Resort reporting an excellent 14.67% upward trend.
“We are very proud that our island has fared well in 2005 in the wake of what was a challenging year for tourism,” said Managing Director for the Aruba Tourism Authority, Myrna Jansen. “From some of the highest fuel prices in U.S. history affecting airline fares, an extremely active hurricane season and limited inventory as over 600 guestrooms were out of commission for the greater part of the year, Aruba’s consistent numbers were a testament to the strength of the island’s tourism sector.”
Aruba is already going strong in 2006 forging ahead with major investments in the tourism product totaling over $274 million reinforcing the destination’s commitment to continually updating and improving the vacation experience. Expansions and renovations encompass virtually every sector of the travel industry, from the airport and cruise terminal to hotels, spas and restaurants. The island also continues to flourish with numerous to-do’s as first-timers and Aruba-devotees alike will enjoy a roster of unforgettable activities. Major music festivals return to the island this year including the Sixth Annual Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival (Memorial Day Weekend), which features some of the biggest names in the R&B music world and the Fifth Annual Aruba Music Festival (Columbus Day Weekend) with world-famous rock and roll headliners. Additionally, unique environmental programs like the 13th Annual Aruba Reef Care Program (July 1 - 2) allow locals and volunteers to lend a hand in preserving and maintaining the island’s amazing beaches and underwater marvels.
_____________________________________________
Statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO):
Excerpt from 'Caribbean Tourism Performance in 2005'
Aruba.com
3/31/2006
Aruba announces another strong year for arrivals in 2005. According to the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), 2005 proved to be a solid year, attracting over 4,000more sun-seekers (totaling an astonishing 732,514 jetsetters) from around the world. An amazing 532,352 U.S. travelers hit Aruba’s white-sand shores last year, representing over 1,000 (.2%) additional visitors compared to 2004, making up 72.7% of the island’s total market share. Overall, 2005 held steady with a .6% increase in worldwide numbers over 2004. With hundreds of thousands of seasoned travelers and sun and sand devotees making the island their escape in 2005, Aruba remains one of the world’s number one hot-spots with a repeat visitor rate of over 40%, the highest of any Caribbean destination.
Many of Aruba’s amazing hotels and resorts saw significant increases in visitor numbers over 2004. The island’s boutique hotels soared, as the Bucuti Beach Resort & Tara Beach Suites posted a 9.97% increase. The Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa reported 10.20% spike, while larger properties like the Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino, boasted a 7.18% in growth. Time shares also fared well with The Divi Dutch Village Resort reporting an excellent 14.67% upward trend.
“We are very proud that our island has fared well in 2005 in the wake of what was a challenging year for tourism,” said Managing Director for the Aruba Tourism Authority, Myrna Jansen. “From some of the highest fuel prices in U.S. history affecting airline fares, an extremely active hurricane season and limited inventory as over 600 guestrooms were out of commission for the greater part of the year, Aruba’s consistent numbers were a testament to the strength of the island’s tourism sector.”
Aruba is already going strong in 2006 forging ahead with major investments in the tourism product totaling over $274 million reinforcing the destination’s commitment to continually updating and improving the vacation experience. Expansions and renovations encompass virtually every sector of the travel industry, from the airport and cruise terminal to hotels, spas and restaurants. The island also continues to flourish with numerous to-do’s as first-timers and Aruba-devotees alike will enjoy a roster of unforgettable activities. Major music festivals return to the island this year including the Sixth Annual Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival (Memorial Day Weekend), which features some of the biggest names in the R&B music world and the Fifth Annual Aruba Music Festival (Columbus Day Weekend) with world-famous rock and roll headliners. Additionally, unique environmental programs like the 13th Annual Aruba Reef Care Program (July 1 - 2) allow locals and volunteers to lend a hand in preserving and maintaining the island’s amazing beaches and underwater marvels.
_____________________________________________
Statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO):
Tourist (stop-over) Arrivals and Cruise Passenger Visits in 2005 | ||||||
| | Tourist Arrivals | Cruise Passenger Visits | ||||
Destination (Stop-Over) | Period | Tourist | % Change 2005/04 | Period | Cruise Passengers | % Change 2005/04 |
| | Jan-Oct | 621,641 | 2.2 | Jan-Nov | 470,765 | -5.6 |
Excerpt from 'Caribbean Tourism Performance in 2005'
The performances of the various sub-regions have also varied. Clearly the performances of Cuba (2.3 million tourists and a 13 percent increase) and the Dominican Republic (3.7 million tourists and a 7.2 percent increase) have made a considerable contribution to the regional increase although, in the Hispanic Caribbean, this would have been counter-balanced by the fall off in visitation to Cancun and Cozumel after the passage of hurricane Wilma.
In contrast, tourist arrivals to CARICOM countries has grown by a somewhat more modest 2.3 percent to 3.3 million in 2005, while cruise passenger visitation declined by 6.3 percent to around 7 million.
In comparison, the Dutch Caribbean countries (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St Maarten, Saba and St Eustatius) grew by 1.9 percent, the US Caribbean (Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands) by 3.2 percent and the Other Caribbean (including Cuba and the Dominican Republic) by 5.3 percent.
3.30.2006
Holloway case in “OPSPORING VERZOCHT” program in Holland
DIARIO Aruba
3/30/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Recently, the Public Prosecutor sent out a press release that says that the Public Prosecutor and the Police Forec will make use of a Dutch TV program, “Opsporing Verzocht”, to give momentum to the investigation into the disappearance of Miss Natalee Holloway. The program will be transmitted in Aruba and Holland on April 11, 2006.
HELP WITH USE OF A REENACTMENT
In the television program, help will be asked of viewers to try to take the investigation further along.
During the program, they will air a reenactment of the days before the disappearance and the night/early morning hours in which Miss Natalee Holloway disappeared.
Step by step they will retrace the places she possibly could have gone.
People who were in Aruba during the time of the disappearance and days after and have some knowledge of her disappearance, will be asked to come forward with information.
EXPECTATIONS
The investigative team is of the opinion that there are people who have important information about the case, but that have still not come forward with their information.
The press release continues to say that people who have information can call Holland anonymously and paying local rates.
All persons can be attended to in Papiamento, Dutch or English. It could be only one crucial tip that can give the investigation a jump-start.
OPSPORING VERZOCHT PROGRAM
The Opsporing Verzocht program has been in existence for 22 years in Holland and has solved 30% of the cases that they have transmitted.
The Public Prosecutor of Aruba, Police Force of Aruba, Korps Landelijke Politiediensten di Hulanda, Polis di Utrecth and the AVRO public channel are working together on the program.
The Wereldomroep channel will transmit the program on April 11, 2006 in Aruba on the BVN channel, which is channel 54. This will start in Aruba a few minutes after 15:30 in the afternoon [3:30 pm].
This is due to a delay in the sending of the signal to Aruba, after the live transmission starts in Holland at 21:30 at night [9:30 pm].
Related to the time difference, the transmission will be repeated at night, on BVN, channel 54.
They will also try to air the program on local channels. The program will have Papiamento subtitles.
DIARIO Aruba
3/30/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Recently, the Public Prosecutor sent out a press release that says that the Public Prosecutor and the Police Forec will make use of a Dutch TV program, “Opsporing Verzocht”, to give momentum to the investigation into the disappearance of Miss Natalee Holloway. The program will be transmitted in Aruba and Holland on April 11, 2006.
HELP WITH USE OF A REENACTMENT
In the television program, help will be asked of viewers to try to take the investigation further along.
During the program, they will air a reenactment of the days before the disappearance and the night/early morning hours in which Miss Natalee Holloway disappeared.
Step by step they will retrace the places she possibly could have gone.
People who were in Aruba during the time of the disappearance and days after and have some knowledge of her disappearance, will be asked to come forward with information.
EXPECTATIONS
The investigative team is of the opinion that there are people who have important information about the case, but that have still not come forward with their information.
The press release continues to say that people who have information can call Holland anonymously and paying local rates.
All persons can be attended to in Papiamento, Dutch or English. It could be only one crucial tip that can give the investigation a jump-start.
OPSPORING VERZOCHT PROGRAM
The Opsporing Verzocht program has been in existence for 22 years in Holland and has solved 30% of the cases that they have transmitted.
The Public Prosecutor of Aruba, Police Force of Aruba, Korps Landelijke Politiediensten di Hulanda, Polis di Utrecth and the AVRO public channel are working together on the program.
The Wereldomroep channel will transmit the program on April 11, 2006 in Aruba on the BVN channel, which is channel 54. This will start in Aruba a few minutes after 15:30 in the afternoon [3:30 pm].
This is due to a delay in the sending of the signal to Aruba, after the live transmission starts in Holland at 21:30 at night [9:30 pm].
Related to the time difference, the transmission will be repeated at night, on BVN, channel 54.
They will also try to air the program on local channels. The program will have Papiamento subtitles.
Once again, various American press teams arrive in Aruba
DIARIO Aruba
3/30/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Now that it’s almost been one year that the young American Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba, when the press attention was immense, now it is apparent that once again things are going in that direction.
After there was indication that there were different members of the American press in Aruba, Wednesday more arrived.
Commissioner Dompig recently appeared on an American program, where he said that they are not very far from the end of the investigation, while there are a few indications that the Public Prosecutor is also almost ready to bring forward the case against the suspect(s) in this case.
The American press perhaps feels that they don’t want to be late for any important developments in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway and sent their teams once again.
Subsequent to Joran going on different American and Dutch TV programs, and on Aruban radio and spoke openly with everyone, more questions have come up, so perhaps the American press will use their teams to see what they can come up with out of all of this.
There is indication that maybe there’s less than two months left for a possible case against Joran to start, so the American press wants to come to prepare themselves beforehand.
It also came out around the world, that Dutch cadaver dogs are in Aruba for a new search, so this also will attract the attention of the local and international press.
DIARIO Aruba
3/30/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Now that it’s almost been one year that the young American Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba, when the press attention was immense, now it is apparent that once again things are going in that direction.
After there was indication that there were different members of the American press in Aruba, Wednesday more arrived.
Commissioner Dompig recently appeared on an American program, where he said that they are not very far from the end of the investigation, while there are a few indications that the Public Prosecutor is also almost ready to bring forward the case against the suspect(s) in this case.
The American press perhaps feels that they don’t want to be late for any important developments in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway and sent their teams once again.
Subsequent to Joran going on different American and Dutch TV programs, and on Aruban radio and spoke openly with everyone, more questions have come up, so perhaps the American press will use their teams to see what they can come up with out of all of this.
There is indication that maybe there’s less than two months left for a possible case against Joran to start, so the American press wants to come to prepare themselves beforehand.
It also came out around the world, that Dutch cadaver dogs are in Aruba for a new search, so this also will attract the attention of the local and international press.
According to spokesperson for Public Prosecutor
Prosecutor Kruimel is conducting investigation of the facts in the case of Natalee Holloway
Where a few people were heard for two and three times
DIARIO Aruba
3/30/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Wednesday, DIARIO interviewed the spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor, drs. Mariaine Croes, and asked her the reason for her trip to Holland recently.
She said that it was true that a few weeks back she went to Holland, while Commissioner Dompig also went. She said it’s not true that she went to Holland because she is in charge of the investigation.
According drs Croes, this is not possible according to the law, because she works as a communications consultant for the Public Prosecutor. This is the function she performs and it is under this mandate that she went to Holland.
She explained that Commissioner Dompig went because he heads the police tea in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
According to drs Croes, they went to Holland because the investigative team in the case of the disappearace took the initiative to go explore the possibilities available to them, to deal with this case in the Dutch television program Opsporing Verzocht”.
She explained that although the program is in Holland, the responsibility falls on the Public Prosecutor, because the investigation is being guided by a prosecutor from the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Aruba and it is conducted by the members of the Aruba Police Force.
The program is going to make some specific questions to the members of the Aruban community, Holland and the U.S.
In this program, Dutch police is working together with the program producers and in this case, with Aruban authorities, to try to solve the case.
According to drs. Croes, via this program, they want to reach different people, not only people in Holland, but also in the U.S. and Aruba.
Given that it deals with three different cultures, the intention is to look for the most objective way to formulate the questions, in order to be able to reach all the different people, to ask them what you want to know objectively.
This program has solved many different cases, from the smallest of cases, like for example a bank robbery, to big murder cases.
DIARIO asked the spokesperson for the Public Prosecution what are the latest developments in the case of Natalee Holloway apart from the program Opsporing Verzocht.
She said that currently there’s a team that is officially called “Zoek en Vind Team”, that has come to Aruba with dogs from the K.O.P.D. Also, there are other experts in Aruba, who are also helping in the search.
DIARIO asked drs. Croes how the investigative team insisted to search in the same area that they have already searched on different occasions, the dunes near the lighthouse.
According to drs. Croes, the zones where they will search are zones that the investigation has indicated that if they have already searched, they have to search again as if they haven’t searched, to be 100% certain that they can exclude the area.
DIARIO asked the spokesperson of the Public Prosecutor if they are coming close to a conclusion of this case.
Drs Croes explained that the investigation is ongoing and while the more issues are excluded, the close they will arrive to a conclusion of the case, where the case will be closed, when they have investigated everything that they have set out to investigate.
DIARIO asked drs Croes if the Public Prosecutor was aware of the CBS program on which Commissioner Dompig appeared, which was recorded.
She said yes. DIARIO also asked if she feels the American press is looking to speak to her in regards to this case.
She said that the interest is still great, but she gives all information on the case in writing.
DIARIO also asked how the so called ‘feiten onderzoek’ (investigation into the facts) is going, to which she said that this investigation is still ongoing and it is for members of the Landsrecherche.
The members of the Landsrecherche are conducting the investigation under the guidance of prosecutor Kruimel of the Public Prosecutor.
The spokesperson said that it is important to bring forth the fact that the prosecutor who guides any feiten onderzoek, is the one who decides what information can be given to the press, etc. and at what time this can be divulged. The prosecutor indicated that the investigation is ongoing, where there are people who are being heard twice and some three times.
Prosecutor Kruimel is conducting investigation of the facts in the case of Natalee Holloway
Where a few people were heard for two and three times
DIARIO Aruba
3/30/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Wednesday, DIARIO interviewed the spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor, drs. Mariaine Croes, and asked her the reason for her trip to Holland recently.
She said that it was true that a few weeks back she went to Holland, while Commissioner Dompig also went. She said it’s not true that she went to Holland because she is in charge of the investigation.
According drs Croes, this is not possible according to the law, because she works as a communications consultant for the Public Prosecutor. This is the function she performs and it is under this mandate that she went to Holland.
She explained that Commissioner Dompig went because he heads the police tea in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
According to drs Croes, they went to Holland because the investigative team in the case of the disappearace took the initiative to go explore the possibilities available to them, to deal with this case in the Dutch television program Opsporing Verzocht”.
She explained that although the program is in Holland, the responsibility falls on the Public Prosecutor, because the investigation is being guided by a prosecutor from the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Aruba and it is conducted by the members of the Aruba Police Force.
The program is going to make some specific questions to the members of the Aruban community, Holland and the U.S.
In this program, Dutch police is working together with the program producers and in this case, with Aruban authorities, to try to solve the case.
According to drs. Croes, via this program, they want to reach different people, not only people in Holland, but also in the U.S. and Aruba.
Given that it deals with three different cultures, the intention is to look for the most objective way to formulate the questions, in order to be able to reach all the different people, to ask them what you want to know objectively.
This program has solved many different cases, from the smallest of cases, like for example a bank robbery, to big murder cases.
DIARIO asked the spokesperson for the Public Prosecution what are the latest developments in the case of Natalee Holloway apart from the program Opsporing Verzocht.
She said that currently there’s a team that is officially called “Zoek en Vind Team”, that has come to Aruba with dogs from the K.O.P.D. Also, there are other experts in Aruba, who are also helping in the search.
DIARIO asked drs. Croes how the investigative team insisted to search in the same area that they have already searched on different occasions, the dunes near the lighthouse.
According to drs. Croes, the zones where they will search are zones that the investigation has indicated that if they have already searched, they have to search again as if they haven’t searched, to be 100% certain that they can exclude the area.
DIARIO asked the spokesperson of the Public Prosecutor if they are coming close to a conclusion of this case.
Drs Croes explained that the investigation is ongoing and while the more issues are excluded, the close they will arrive to a conclusion of the case, where the case will be closed, when they have investigated everything that they have set out to investigate.
DIARIO asked drs Croes if the Public Prosecutor was aware of the CBS program on which Commissioner Dompig appeared, which was recorded.
She said yes. DIARIO also asked if she feels the American press is looking to speak to her in regards to this case.
She said that the interest is still great, but she gives all information on the case in writing.
DIARIO also asked how the so called ‘feiten onderzoek’ (investigation into the facts) is going, to which she said that this investigation is still ongoing and it is for members of the Landsrecherche.
The members of the Landsrecherche are conducting the investigation under the guidance of prosecutor Kruimel of the Public Prosecutor.
The spokesperson said that it is important to bring forth the fact that the prosecutor who guides any feiten onderzoek, is the one who decides what information can be given to the press, etc. and at what time this can be divulged. The prosecutor indicated that the investigation is ongoing, where there are people who are being heard twice and some three times.
Search for Natalee again behind the lighthouse
DIARIO Aruba
3/30/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Yesterday, the ‘Zoek en Vind Team’ was in the area of the lighthouse where they searched in the dunes with dogs of the K.O.P.D.
Among others were a few experts who came to Aruba and who are also helping in the search. This search, according to Mariaine Croes, spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor, is for the investigators to be 100 percent certain that they can exclude this area in regards to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
DIARIO Aruba
3/30/2006
ORANJESTAD (AAN): Yesterday, the ‘Zoek en Vind Team’ was in the area of the lighthouse where they searched in the dunes with dogs of the K.O.P.D.
Among others were a few experts who came to Aruba and who are also helping in the search. This search, according to Mariaine Croes, spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor, is for the investigators to be 100 percent certain that they can exclude this area in regards to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
3.29.2006
Tracker dogs arrived in Aruba
Amigoe
3/29/2006
ARUBA – A delegation of four Dutch police officers and two special trained tracker dogs together with field Public Prosecutor Karin Janssen arrived in Aruba yesterday afternoon. A second delegation is expected to arrive later. The dogs will be used to search a certain area in the sand hills. The suspicion is that Natalee Holloway is (re)buried in that area. Chief of Police Gerold Dompig prepared the investigation in the Netherlands a few weeks ago.
In an interview with CBS that was transmitted last Saturday, Dompig said that he thinks that the three main suspects, Joran van der Sloot, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, are no murderers. He suspects that the three boys were involved in hiding the body of Holloway, who had possibly died from an overdose of alcohol and drugs. He thinks that there was a second group of people involved with the hiding of the girl’s body. This second group must have helped with the reburying of the body in a better location. He also said in the interview that he suspects father Paul van der Sloot of knowing more about the disappearance of the girl than he had said up till now.
Amigoe
3/29/2006
ARUBA – A delegation of four Dutch police officers and two special trained tracker dogs together with field Public Prosecutor Karin Janssen arrived in Aruba yesterday afternoon. A second delegation is expected to arrive later. The dogs will be used to search a certain area in the sand hills. The suspicion is that Natalee Holloway is (re)buried in that area. Chief of Police Gerold Dompig prepared the investigation in the Netherlands a few weeks ago.
In an interview with CBS that was transmitted last Saturday, Dompig said that he thinks that the three main suspects, Joran van der Sloot, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, are no murderers. He suspects that the three boys were involved in hiding the body of Holloway, who had possibly died from an overdose of alcohol and drugs. He thinks that there was a second group of people involved with the hiding of the girl’s body. This second group must have helped with the reburying of the body in a better location. He also said in the interview that he suspects father Paul van der Sloot of knowing more about the disappearance of the girl than he had said up till now.
Assisting with the search for Natalee Holloway
Group of experts and dogs from Holland arrived in Aruba yesterday afternoon
They will start searching this week in specific areas
Bon Dia Aruba
3/28/2006
ORANJESTAD – Late yesterday afternoon, a Dutch delegation consisting of 4 people and 2 specialized dogs arrived to assist with what is the crucial phase in the search for Natalee Holloway. The delegation is one that was intensively prepared with the assistance of the Aruba team which flew to Holland a few weeks back under the command of Commissioner Gerold Dompig to finalize the preparation. Yesterday afternoon this delegation arrived in Aruba to start its work.
TWO DELEGATIONS
They met up with one of two delegations which also arrived after and together they will start a different search in a specific areas marked by police authorities that have to be the final part of the search. These dogs are trained specifically to search underground odours and are the same as the American dogs that are called ‘cadaver dogs’. Along with the dogs, they also have equipment that the special team will use during their search in Aruba.
SPECIAL DOGS
The dogs are special in that they are treated and trained practically as people. Among them, these dogs do not sleep outside, but in the room with their masters. They do not go out at any time like other dogs. Yesterday it could be noted that their arrival, contrary to other times, they left the dogs constantly in their kennels to avoid that they could touch the unknown floor at the airport.
COORDINATION
The coordination is a very narrow one, and it has undergone much preparation to guarantee a perfect work, all under the leadership of Gerold Dompig, who as of late has been busy with these preparations. In the course of the week there will be more information about what the specialized Dutch group is doing during their stay in Aruba.
Group of experts and dogs from Holland arrived in Aruba yesterday afternoon
They will start searching this week in specific areas
Bon Dia Aruba
3/28/2006
ORANJESTAD – Late yesterday afternoon, a Dutch delegation consisting of 4 people and 2 specialized dogs arrived to assist with what is the crucial phase in the search for Natalee Holloway. The delegation is one that was intensively prepared with the assistance of the Aruba team which flew to Holland a few weeks back under the command of Commissioner Gerold Dompig to finalize the preparation. Yesterday afternoon this delegation arrived in Aruba to start its work.
TWO DELEGATIONS
They met up with one of two delegations which also arrived after and together they will start a different search in a specific areas marked by police authorities that have to be the final part of the search. These dogs are trained specifically to search underground odours and are the same as the American dogs that are called ‘cadaver dogs’. Along with the dogs, they also have equipment that the special team will use during their search in Aruba.
SPECIAL DOGS
The dogs are special in that they are treated and trained practically as people. Among them, these dogs do not sleep outside, but in the room with their masters. They do not go out at any time like other dogs. Yesterday it could be noted that their arrival, contrary to other times, they left the dogs constantly in their kennels to avoid that they could touch the unknown floor at the airport.
COORDINATION
The coordination is a very narrow one, and it has undergone much preparation to guarantee a perfect work, all under the leadership of Gerold Dompig, who as of late has been busy with these preparations. In the course of the week there will be more information about what the specialized Dutch group is doing during their stay in Aruba.
Forecast becomes a reality at the airport
Quantity of passenger arrivals drops by 13% for first two months of 2006
Airport director is very disappointed with the results!
Bon Dia Aruba
3/28/2006
ORANJESTAD – The first two months of the year 2006 are not going too well for the airport. This is in terms of the quantity of passengers that arrive to our island. And the numbers confirm the worries of the airport manager Peter Steinmetz who points to the numbers being in the negative double digits. ‘January and February are disappointing’ Steinmetz said.
The first 6 months of last years, things were going very well compared to the previous year, but after a series of negative news started there was a drop in passengers. Now there is talk of negative growth of passengers. ‘This is disappointing for sure’, Steinmetz continued to say. And things don’t look much better. But at this time it is difficult to estimate how things will go. ‘We have an indication that the month of March will be a little better’, Steinmetz said, but he cannot say with certainty what this means.
According to the airport director, everything depends on two things.
The publicity that Aruba will conduct to rectify its image after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, and the other issue is the increase in the hotel rates, that from last year is also a fact. He considers that hotel rates were increased too much.
‘I am confident that AHATA knows what’s happening and that they know what they have to do about it’, Steinmetz said.
Quantity of passenger arrivals drops by 13% for first two months of 2006
Airport director is very disappointed with the results!
Bon Dia Aruba
3/28/2006
ORANJESTAD – The first two months of the year 2006 are not going too well for the airport. This is in terms of the quantity of passengers that arrive to our island. And the numbers confirm the worries of the airport manager Peter Steinmetz who points to the numbers being in the negative double digits. ‘January and February are disappointing’ Steinmetz said.
The first 6 months of last years, things were going very well compared to the previous year, but after a series of negative news started there was a drop in passengers. Now there is talk of negative growth of passengers. ‘This is disappointing for sure’, Steinmetz continued to say. And things don’t look much better. But at this time it is difficult to estimate how things will go. ‘We have an indication that the month of March will be a little better’, Steinmetz said, but he cannot say with certainty what this means.
According to the airport director, everything depends on two things.
The publicity that Aruba will conduct to rectify its image after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, and the other issue is the increase in the hotel rates, that from last year is also a fact. He considers that hotel rates were increased too much.
‘I am confident that AHATA knows what’s happening and that they know what they have to do about it’, Steinmetz said.
Gerold Dompig’s interview was to set Aruba’s image straight
Suggestion in the CBS program that Joran vd Sloot took Natalee Holloway to his house and not the beach
As said in the initial declaration
Bon Dia Aruba
3/28/2006
ORANJESTAD – Joran vd Sloot did not take Natalee Holloway to the beach, but to his house. One of the many revelations and suggestions that interim High Commissioner Gerold Dompig shared with Troy Roberts of CBS Saturday night in the program ’48 Hours – Mystery’ A much anticipated program due to the information that Dompig gave that was not before known, especially by the American media. A program, that according to CBS, Dompig made with the authorization of his superiors and that had as a goal to set straight all bad information Aruba has had to ‘deal’ with during the last months.
Among them, the bad image that was tried to be painted of our judicial system, and the police’s work in this investigation.
EXPLANATION
Among the explanations wre how our radar system works and that it would be difficult for a boat in movement to escape the eyes of the authorities. With a visual demonstration, this was proven on television. At the same time he explained the ‘tardiness’ in the detention of the three youngsters vd Sloot and Kalpoe, and how the judicial system functions, contrary to the thoughts of the American press.
DEAD OR NOT
One of the revelations of last night was that Natalee Holloway was not killed, but that she died of drugs via an overdose or of shock. Her alcohol consumption of that night was also discussed where Dompig based himself on the declarations of witnesses but could not give confirmation that Natalee Holloway was truly intoxicated the night of her disappearance. ‘I cannot confirm that she was intoxicated’, Dompig said. But three of her friends confirmed during the program that Holloway was very drunk that night.
DRUGS
There is information, according to Dompig, that Holloway had drugs in her possession. Information that police had 3 months ago and information that they have now are totally different. ‘Now we have a completely different perspective’, Dompig told the CBS reporter. Dompig indicated that the investigation is in its last critical phase.
ANONYMOUS CALL
There was an anonymous call that the Carlos & Charlie manager received and consequently passed on to police authorities, that a new ‘witness’ had appeared. This witness had more information as to the manner in which they ‘got rid of’ Natalee Holloway. The information was very specific to be one simply fabricated by one person. Based on this, investigators conducted a new search in the area of the dunes behind the lighthouse.
VD SLOOT DETENTION
It was shown that when Joran vd Sloot was in detention and that they tried everything to keep him in prison. The fact that at the beginning Joran was a minor, according to Dompig, made things difficult since Joran’s father could visit him frequently and give him all information and advice necessary.
‘This seriously complicated things’, Dompig said. Here, Dompig confirmed that Paul vd Sloot knows more of the disappearance than what he says. There were a few moments where Joran almost broke.
NEW ELEMENT
A program with a few new elements and that has to be indicative of a new search which will take place in the coming weeks. Police do not want to say what day or what time this search will continue.
Suggestion in the CBS program that Joran vd Sloot took Natalee Holloway to his house and not the beach
As said in the initial declaration
Bon Dia Aruba
3/28/2006
ORANJESTAD – Joran vd Sloot did not take Natalee Holloway to the beach, but to his house. One of the many revelations and suggestions that interim High Commissioner Gerold Dompig shared with Troy Roberts of CBS Saturday night in the program ’48 Hours – Mystery’ A much anticipated program due to the information that Dompig gave that was not before known, especially by the American media. A program, that according to CBS, Dompig made with the authorization of his superiors and that had as a goal to set straight all bad information Aruba has had to ‘deal’ with during the last months.
Among them, the bad image that was tried to be painted of our judicial system, and the police’s work in this investigation.
EXPLANATION
Among the explanations wre how our radar system works and that it would be difficult for a boat in movement to escape the eyes of the authorities. With a visual demonstration, this was proven on television. At the same time he explained the ‘tardiness’ in the detention of the three youngsters vd Sloot and Kalpoe, and how the judicial system functions, contrary to the thoughts of the American press.
DEAD OR NOT
One of the revelations of last night was that Natalee Holloway was not killed, but that she died of drugs via an overdose or of shock. Her alcohol consumption of that night was also discussed where Dompig based himself on the declarations of witnesses but could not give confirmation that Natalee Holloway was truly intoxicated the night of her disappearance. ‘I cannot confirm that she was intoxicated’, Dompig said. But three of her friends confirmed during the program that Holloway was very drunk that night.
DRUGS
There is information, according to Dompig, that Holloway had drugs in her possession. Information that police had 3 months ago and information that they have now are totally different. ‘Now we have a completely different perspective’, Dompig told the CBS reporter. Dompig indicated that the investigation is in its last critical phase.
ANONYMOUS CALL
There was an anonymous call that the Carlos & Charlie manager received and consequently passed on to police authorities, that a new ‘witness’ had appeared. This witness had more information as to the manner in which they ‘got rid of’ Natalee Holloway. The information was very specific to be one simply fabricated by one person. Based on this, investigators conducted a new search in the area of the dunes behind the lighthouse.
VD SLOOT DETENTION
It was shown that when Joran vd Sloot was in detention and that they tried everything to keep him in prison. The fact that at the beginning Joran was a minor, according to Dompig, made things difficult since Joran’s father could visit him frequently and give him all information and advice necessary.
‘This seriously complicated things’, Dompig said. Here, Dompig confirmed that Paul vd Sloot knows more of the disappearance than what he says. There were a few moments where Joran almost broke.
NEW ELEMENT
A program with a few new elements and that has to be indicative of a new search which will take place in the coming weeks. Police do not want to say what day or what time this search will continue.
Editorial: The Natalee Holloway investigation cannot continue with fables and insinuations
Bon Dia Aruba
3/28/2006
In nine weeks Aruba will confront once more the sad case of the disappearance of the young student Natalee Holloway, who disappeared in the early morning hours of the 30th of May of 2005 here in Aruba, and who has still not been found.
For close to one long year the country of Aruba has felt and suffered the consequences that this sad case has brought along with it, fighting against an unfair campaign and the sensationalism of the American press, which has seen in the drama, principally television networks, a system to boost their ratings amongst the American public.
Aruba did everything possible, procure a national search, in which thousands and thousands of people searched and the government which gave free time to thousands of its workers to participate in this search, with the cooperation of countless businesses who procured transportation, food and drink.
Schoolchildren who were involved in the search and there were even people detained who never had to be detained, such as the two security guards.
The community received the mother and family of Natalee with open arms, the hotel sector invested money to help in the search, gave the family all that they could give them during their stay in Aruba, sharing in the pain and sadness of Natalee Holloway’s family.
However, at the moment that things were calming down, Aruba recuperating a little from the publicity and negative campaign that the family initiated against our country, the young Joran van der Sloot, the principal suspect in this case, decided to make use of his right to attend to his own image and credibility.
In an attempt to straighten up his image and to say what he says is the truth, Joran messed things up for himself, and once more threw back Aruba in the mix, where the name of our island is again being misused with negative and unfair propaganda.
It was his right, but the Dutch youth has to take into consideration the damage that he caused once again to himself, but also his country.
His declaration solely served to launch more speculation, to raise the anger among those who consider him the principal suspect in the disappearance of the young student.
His truth wasn’t truth to those who have practically already condemned him, especially in the U.S.
When this fury also subsided a little, now another uncomfortable situation has arised, when a high functionary of the Aruba police force gave an interview to an American TV channel, making statements that at no time serves the cause of justice, nor the cause of the country of Aruba.
Declarations which create more confusion, create more questions, while at no time do the bring clarity or closure to this sad case.
A justice official, when he is going to give a declaration, these declarations have to be based on facts, concrete and legal facts which at no time, as a high ranked police official, he can give declarations which are based on ‘insinuations and rumours’ or probabilities.
Commissioner Gerald Dompig in a certain sense gave an irresponsible declaration when he spoke of the death of Natalee Holloway and more still how this youngster died. Justice does not recognize this, which is based on their legal conclusions, on accumulated information and that cannot be confirmed at any time with the reality of the situation.
In the first place, no one knows where Natalee Holloway is, if she is dead or alive, and more still, no cause of death can be determined if there is still no knowledge that she is dead. An autopsy cannot be conducted on a body that has still not been found, to determine the cause of death of this person.
This is simply why the Commissioner cannot come forward and state for public consumption that ‘they’ ‘buried’ the body once and ‘after’ ‘took out’ the body and buried it again.
It would take a superhuman person, a person with no feelings and with a lot, but a lot of courage to go back to a body that he buried a few days before and go bury it elsewhere. It would take a diabolical mind to be able to do this.
To top it all off, in this case one cannot speak of a body since there is still no body and if there is no body, then how can the Commissioner know that it is buried? On the basis of what ‘was said’, of the witness’s testimony that nobody is aware of, and if it is true that these declarations are based on what Mr. Dompig believes happened then he has to keep his thoughts to himself, investigate this information to give them a concrete and legal basis, before going to the public and stating these.
What is taking place is another slur for an island that is already putting up with a lot, a slur, to top it all off, caused by our own people, justice officials who have to have known better than go to the public with this type of information.
The belief that there is a body to be found but to never find the body since no one knows if there is a body to be found, has to stop and at the moment where the remains of the youngster are found, if she is dead, then it’s time to come forward and publicly say that Natalee Holloway is dead. Before that, nothing and no one justice official can come forward with this belief, given that legally, they cannot support it.
If any media wants to speculate about this, it’s another matter, but no responsible media can do this if they consider themselves a responsible and serious media.
According to the laws of our country, a person is legally declared dead five years after his or her disappearance and not before that.
The case of Natalee Holloway has to be solved, but as long as it’s not solved we cannot permit ourselves the luxury to commit this type of blunder.
Bon Dia Aruba
3/28/2006
In nine weeks Aruba will confront once more the sad case of the disappearance of the young student Natalee Holloway, who disappeared in the early morning hours of the 30th of May of 2005 here in Aruba, and who has still not been found.
For close to one long year the country of Aruba has felt and suffered the consequences that this sad case has brought along with it, fighting against an unfair campaign and the sensationalism of the American press, which has seen in the drama, principally television networks, a system to boost their ratings amongst the American public.
Aruba did everything possible, procure a national search, in which thousands and thousands of people searched and the government which gave free time to thousands of its workers to participate in this search, with the cooperation of countless businesses who procured transportation, food and drink.
Schoolchildren who were involved in the search and there were even people detained who never had to be detained, such as the two security guards.
The community received the mother and family of Natalee with open arms, the hotel sector invested money to help in the search, gave the family all that they could give them during their stay in Aruba, sharing in the pain and sadness of Natalee Holloway’s family.
However, at the moment that things were calming down, Aruba recuperating a little from the publicity and negative campaign that the family initiated against our country, the young Joran van der Sloot, the principal suspect in this case, decided to make use of his right to attend to his own image and credibility.
In an attempt to straighten up his image and to say what he says is the truth, Joran messed things up for himself, and once more threw back Aruba in the mix, where the name of our island is again being misused with negative and unfair propaganda.
It was his right, but the Dutch youth has to take into consideration the damage that he caused once again to himself, but also his country.
His declaration solely served to launch more speculation, to raise the anger among those who consider him the principal suspect in the disappearance of the young student.
His truth wasn’t truth to those who have practically already condemned him, especially in the U.S.
When this fury also subsided a little, now another uncomfortable situation has arised, when a high functionary of the Aruba police force gave an interview to an American TV channel, making statements that at no time serves the cause of justice, nor the cause of the country of Aruba.
Declarations which create more confusion, create more questions, while at no time do the bring clarity or closure to this sad case.
A justice official, when he is going to give a declaration, these declarations have to be based on facts, concrete and legal facts which at no time, as a high ranked police official, he can give declarations which are based on ‘insinuations and rumours’ or probabilities.
Commissioner Gerald Dompig in a certain sense gave an irresponsible declaration when he spoke of the death of Natalee Holloway and more still how this youngster died. Justice does not recognize this, which is based on their legal conclusions, on accumulated information and that cannot be confirmed at any time with the reality of the situation.
In the first place, no one knows where Natalee Holloway is, if she is dead or alive, and more still, no cause of death can be determined if there is still no knowledge that she is dead. An autopsy cannot be conducted on a body that has still not been found, to determine the cause of death of this person.
This is simply why the Commissioner cannot come forward and state for public consumption that ‘they’ ‘buried’ the body once and ‘after’ ‘took out’ the body and buried it again.
It would take a superhuman person, a person with no feelings and with a lot, but a lot of courage to go back to a body that he buried a few days before and go bury it elsewhere. It would take a diabolical mind to be able to do this.
To top it all off, in this case one cannot speak of a body since there is still no body and if there is no body, then how can the Commissioner know that it is buried? On the basis of what ‘was said’, of the witness’s testimony that nobody is aware of, and if it is true that these declarations are based on what Mr. Dompig believes happened then he has to keep his thoughts to himself, investigate this information to give them a concrete and legal basis, before going to the public and stating these.
What is taking place is another slur for an island that is already putting up with a lot, a slur, to top it all off, caused by our own people, justice officials who have to have known better than go to the public with this type of information.
The belief that there is a body to be found but to never find the body since no one knows if there is a body to be found, has to stop and at the moment where the remains of the youngster are found, if she is dead, then it’s time to come forward and publicly say that Natalee Holloway is dead. Before that, nothing and no one justice official can come forward with this belief, given that legally, they cannot support it.
If any media wants to speculate about this, it’s another matter, but no responsible media can do this if they consider themselves a responsible and serious media.
According to the laws of our country, a person is legally declared dead five years after his or her disappearance and not before that.
The case of Natalee Holloway has to be solved, but as long as it’s not solved we cannot permit ourselves the luxury to commit this type of blunder.
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