RSSAruban Election Results, Status Quo: “an isolated issue that was irrelevant to the election”.
The Aruban election results are in an the ruling party, (MEP) has won and kept its majority in Parliament. According to the AP, the MEP Party won 43% of the vote and won 11 seats in Friday’s parliamentary election.
ORANJESTAD, Aruba Aruba’s ruling party kept its majority in parliament in legislative elections for all 21 seats, election board officials reported on Saturday.
Prime Minister Nelson Oduber’s People’s Electoral Movement party won 43 percent of the vote and won 11 seats in Friday’s parliamentary election, while the main opposition Aruban People’s Party won 33 percent and now has eight seats in parliament.
The ruling party had held a 12-6 majority over the main opposition in the single-house legislature.
The Patriotic Movement of Aruba and the Real Democratic Party won one seat each in the election. The remaining five parties did not win legislative seats.
Voter turnout was at 85 percent, according to the board of elections.
Thus the status quo continues in Aruba as the people have voted. However, there is an amazing and almost unbelievable thought process and comments coming out of Aruba these days from the PM and appointed Task Force with regards to the situation of missing teen Natalee Holloway. Some outsiders thought that the issue might actually be a political issue in determining the next majority or coalition government in Aruba. The potential for Aruba’s tourism to be affected does exist. However, just recently the following comments were made regarding the matter.
From Amigoe, Jeff Lesker of AHATA and a member of the Strategic Communications Task Force stated the following when referencing Aruban tourism and the damage that may be caused by the negative attention caused by the investigation of Natalee Holloway:
“Dat is van groot belang voor de toekomst. This will blow over”, voegde Lesker daaraan toe.
(That is of great importance for our future. This will blow over,” added Lesker…
This is the thought process? It will blow over. Really? I hope this was nor a campaign bumper sticker, “Vote for us and this will blow over”.
Then just over the weekend Prime Minister Nelson Oduber makes the following comment,
On Friday, Oduber described Holloway’s disappearance as a tragedy, but he also called it an isolated issue that was irrelevant to the election.
“We will continue to upgrade our tourist industry and we will concentrate on having a balanced budget by 2009,” Oduber said early Saturday after his victory was assured.
I guess the issue of the bad publicity caused by the mere mention of a “boycott” on the Dr. Phil Show did not also cause members of the Strategic Communications task Force in this same Amigoe article to talk of law suits against the Dr. Phil Show? That would seem a far cry from just the equal time request that has been put forth.
(“… aldus ATA-directeur Myrna Janssen. Overigens worden ook juridische stappen onderzocht.”)
The fact that tourism represents nearly 70% of Aruba’s economy and that American make up about 70% of that number, many Americans question the investigation, Aruba has been so concerned with bad publicity that the Prime Minister formed the Strategic Communications Task Force to combat bad PR and the mere reference of the “B” word causes panic. All this and the Natalee Holloway disappearance although admittedly by the PM is tragic is also just and “isolated issue that was irrelevant to the election.” This is either great spin, a very naive individual or just mere complete misunderstanding of what words to say to formulate a sentence.
A lot of people do not want to see Aruba boycotted as those affected in a boycott are never the ones who usually have created a reason for a boycott; however, no one and I mean no one likes the term “irrelevant” ever used in any sentence when it refers to the disappearance and possible rape and murder of a teenage girl.
As stated I hope there is never a reason for a boycott in Aruba and I hope that Nelson Oduber fulfills his promise to the Holloway/Twitty families by continuing to investigation their daughters disappearance. Remember these comments that were made prior to the election PM?
Prime Minister Nelson Oduber, who has previously said Aruban authorities made mistakes in the early part of the Holloway investigation, added that he could appreciate the “dismay” of the missing teen’s mother.
“But, the case is not concluded. And we will continue to demand that the search for answers into what happened to Natalee will not cease,” Oduber said in a statement released Monday.
The remarks from the prime minister, who is running for re-election this month, are the first since the release Saturday of van der Sloot, 18, and two Surinamese brothers.
However, if there ever is a boycott many can look back to these very insensitive words an wonder why, “an isolated issue that was irrelevant to the election”.
Posted September 24, 2005 by Scared Monkeys Aruba, boycott, Missing Persons, Natalee Holloway, Politics | 21 comments |
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21 Responses to “Aruban Election Results, Status Quo: “an isolated issue that was irrelevant to the election”.”
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We will see how irrelevant the disappearance probable rape and murder of Natalee Holloway is. If Oduber thinks this will blow over he is a raving idiot. We in the U. S. intend to boycott and he will have major problems keeping his promises. Maybe he better hire Paulus van der Sloot to teach him how to lie and cover his ass.
How is he going to increase tourism when the bartendars in Aruba are drugging
American tourists to be raped by locals????
Aruba should start to consider where it stands at this time. Truth is that it needs money and a good deal of it. Those concerned with how they act also includes people living North of the US border. Yes they are watching as well. North Americans make up about 80% of the money going into Aruba. Aruba has increasing dept and wants more to expand. If a boycott starts, getting this funding will be very difficult. If North Americans learn which banks they are seeking loans from and move to stop the process, money talks and informing the bank that you will move your funds and brokerage accounts if the loan(s) go through will stop this in a hurry. Aruba will have pay interest on what ever loans they can find at a rate which will make it impossible for them to repay. They are in competition with Mexico and other places who have taken the pains to assure a much safer place than Aruba shows to the world. The recent changes in the economy has reduced the number of people able to afford this kind of vacation, so the competition will increase and Aruba will lose big time. Telling North Americans where they can shove it gets them no where.
“This will blow over” and so shall I on my way to another vacation destination unless justice is served for Natalee and her family.
Did you guys know that the head investigator in the first instances of the Natalee Holloway investigation was Van Der Straten. Who ironnically joined in the last week before the elections to opposition party AVP. And there’s well known bands between Van Der Straten and Paulus Van Der Sloot. I saw when the AP reporter asked PM Nelson Oduber that question and it was right in the midst of him going to deposit his ballot. What he meant was that the elections had other issues of priority to the desicion of the local people. He is indeed head of Aruba but he on his own can’t impose on the prosecuter office or the head of investigation. He has to many forces working against him! You can’t hold a whole nation responsible for what a group with strong ties with Holland have done. I hope you guys reflect on what I posted! Look back at the whole case and look at who were the ones in control of the case! Not who talked about it but who really were in control about it!
I think most of the people who say they are boycotting have no intention of visiting Aruba. I flew there from Charlotte a few weeks ago. The flight down was almost full. The return flight was completely full. I stayed at the Holiday Inn. It was full of Americans. If this is a boycott, bring it on!
GG
No one is presently boycotting Aruba in any official capacity. Why would the flights not be full? Also, people are locked into deals and time sharing. It doesn’t happen overnight. The affects of potential boycotts take time and take even longer to recover from.
A 2-5% change in tourism can be harmful.
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boycott_Aruba#Aruban_Response
this had as much meaning to the election and tourism as Jon Bonet Ramsey’s unsolved murdur will have and had on Boulder Co
Im shocked at the view taken by SM
Blow over, are you insane, this will never blow over. I am calling on all People of all nations to boycott aruba and its corrupt officials. Since when is rape, dissapearqance and a possible murder irrevelant to a island thats livelyhood persists due to Americans and thier money. Do you prime minister of aruba really believe we want our family going to an island where are daughters are treated in such a fashion . That would be tantamount to us paying you to do that to us. This will never blow over. Take that and put it in your hat…….see how far its gonna hurt your pocket and your island……….
In response to GG: I have been to Aruba many times (sometimes twice in one year). That is over until there is justice for Natalee. I did my share of leaving deposit in Aruba. Aruba was my favorite vacation destination and I did so love Aruba and the Aruban people. But they had no problem protesting against Beth Twitty. Now it is time for them to once again stand up and protest their crooked Dutch justice system.
I did know that van der Straaten was Joran’s Godfather and he and Paulis go way back. All the more proof that the so called investigation was “fixed” and thrown off track from the very first night. Why do you think Joran and his friends had 9 days to cover up and destroy evidence? Why do you think that Paulis was allowed to deny a complete search of his property?
This just stinks to high heaven.
I will miss Aruba but I cannot in good conscience spend another dollar in Aruba to support a country that does not support justice for a American tourist who went missing in their country, last seen alive with 3 of their citizens who have all be released to roam freely among decent people thanks to a Dutch judge.
Dave,
Don’t be so myopic. The fact is there is a threat of a boycott hanging over the head of an island. It had been called for by some from the very beginning of this investigation by some. The fact remains that it exists.
For a PM to state that this is some how insignificant is ridiculous.
All things being the same … if a boycott ever was done against Aruba I would dare say that it would affect more Arubans, the economy and any talk of minimum wage or immigration.
Looks at the big picture please.
BOYCOTT ARUBA YES! but remember this is in GODS HANDS NOW. THE WRATH OF GOD IS STONGER THEN MAN. DID YOU WATCH THERE TOURIST BRIDGE FALL DOWN? THAT IS A SIGN AND JUST THE BEGINNING. LET NO GREED WIN OVER THE LIFE OF A YOUNG LADY. YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE GOD WILL GET YOU AND PUNISH YOU! WE ARE ALL STILL PRAYING FOR NATALEE FOR HER SAFE RETURN SOON! YOU WILL LEARN ARUBA YOU CAN’T USE AND ABUSE TOURIST IN ANYWAY YOU PLEASE. AND THEN ACT AS IF NOTHING WILL COME OF IT. YOUR GREED IS SHOWING AND YOUR ISLAND IS A SIN.
Aruba will PROSPER. Any publicity is GOOD publicity. Hooray for Aruba. Tourism is actually picking up. We Americans are too arrogant. We want everyone to bow to us. We only make up a small percentge of the world’s population. Aruba will survive, and we Americans need to clean up in our own backyards. Don’t send your children to “GIRLS GONE WILD”.
Well SM, maybe it is time you started to look at the big picture. If you can give me one good reason why there should be a boycott I would be very grateful. And please don’t bring on the Dr. Phill tape until you can give me a link to a impartial source who declares that the tape is genuine and real evidence. Don’t bring on the documents signed by police officers and not by Joran, bring me some actual proof.
And all the other posters, you have all the right to find Aruba unsafe, you have all the right to think Joran guilty, but PLEASE, get your facts straight and take your time to get at least familiarised with the case, try to look at it from another side every once and a while and stop repeating stuff you heard somewhere.
Joran is not the god son of van der Straaten, he did not have a credit line at Holiday Inn, Paulus is/was never a judge, Van der Straaten never joined the AVP but was a guest speaker on one of their meetings in which he merely pointed out that in his opinion the extreme pressure on this case, was never an advantage.
Jeff Lesker stated this qoute, but you took it out of context. Here it is:
Jorge Pesquera, ceo van Ahata, noemde het bizar dat Aruba zo negatief wordt afgespiegeld, terwijl nergens in de wereld ooit meer werk is verzet om een verdwenen persoon te vinden. Hij onderstreepte het belang van zelfbeheersing en correct gedrag om het toerisme niet te schaden. “Dat is van groot belang voor de toekomst. This will blow over”, voegde Lesker daaraan toe.
TRANSLATION (I hope people who speak Dutch as well, will confirm this is correct)
Jorge Pesquera, ceo of Ahata, called it bizarre that Aruba has been portrayed this negative, since nowhere in the world ever has been made more effort to find a missing person. He emphasized on the importance of self control and correct conduct in order not to harm the tourism. ” That is very important for the future, this will blow over”, added Lesker
So please SM, I really would like you not to take things out of context. This man (Jorge Pesquera) clearly warns the Aruban people not to overreact, but sit back and take the insults, because Aruba, as a community has to move on. I still need to pay the rent, get food on the table. True, the American tourist provides me the money for it so anyone who starts shouting that we want it to disappear, without solving the case just doesn’t get it. But is it that strange that the ceo of the tourist industry would like this thing to disappear?
Everybody on Aruba wants this to go away, we have been slapped around for four months already. And no matter how hard we try, it is never enough for you. Everybody is convinced they know the truth, although most of you probably never have been to Aruba. NEVER has anything like this happened here before. You can think what you want but Aruba still is one of the safest destinations in the world. We are proud of that and the last thing anybody (including police force, government) wants, is to get a bad reputation by covering up a murder. There is absolutely nothing in it for us and there is no way Paul van der Sloot has that much influence. He even flunked his Judge exam for heaven’s sake.
Mezcal,
I really wish you would read what we actually post and just not type. I would love to see the case solved for all parties concerned. However, it was your PM that stated mistakes were made in this investigation.
No one at SM has backed a boycott of Aruba … we are merely pointing out the possibility that one could occur. To think otherwise is being foolish. I am not the one calling for a boycott, however, those that may will give whatever reason they want. It doesn’t matter whether it is right or wrong with you, it matters whether Americans perceives it as. My only issue is that Arubans may have shown a bit more concern and protests in the street with the release of these three suspects as they did with Beth’s comments about them being criminals.
Perception is everything.
What is most sad about this entire ordeal is that it appears to be a crime committed by non-Arubans where the investigation and legal decisions have been made by non-Arubans that could possibly affect Aruba. At some point I would like to think that maybe Arubans would take this to heart.
Joran is not the god son of van der Straaten, (never said he was)
he did not have a credit line at Holiday Inn, (never said he did)
Paulus is/was never a judge, (no he was a judge in training and the equivalent in the US as a clerk for a judge which is no small task. )
Van der Straaten never joined the AVP but was a guest speaker on one of their meetings in which he merely pointed out that in his opinion the extreme pressure on this case, was never an advantage. (This was as inappropriate as it gets. He had a right to but seeing the division he had with the PM & Justice Minister this was inappropriate)
Think you are getting confused by what you read on the front page of SM and what people are commenting.
Corruption + Cover-up = BOYCOTT
“It will just blow over” is part of the Cover-up.
The government turning the cheek at bartender that continue to drug
American women tourist is absoluting hugh corruption, followed by a bogus investigation that they knew from the beginning they couldn’t solve. Now that just want to sweep it under the rug. After all, all 4 criminals know what happened to Natalee, know where the body is and is guilty of Obstruction of Justice. 3 of the criminals are guilty of Gang Rape, Kidnapping & Murder.
Go Beth! Don’t give up. Natalee wouldn’t want it that way!
I don’t think Beth will. She’s a fighter. She needs our continued support.
Now it’s time for our part. It time for a Hugh American Boycott .
B word, Bword, B word, B word,
I admit my post was a little sloppy, but the comments I made on getting the facts straight were meant for the other posters.
It’s a little hard to believe that the few dozen people on Aruba who had this “anti-Beth” demonstration were this impressive. Like in the US (and even on this board) there are some people in Aruba who simply have not the intelligence to realise that shouting never works.
However, there is a big difference in protesting against a decision made by a judge, or to protest against the one who is challenging this ruling and tries to ruin as much of Aruba as possible, by calling for a boycott and providing information that has not been checked out by any authority. And I really would like to see that somebody checked it. I hope that somehow the FBI will check it and as soon as it is proven that ALE is really covering up, I will be the first one to pack my bags and leave.
what is the motive here! why is natalee missing why is joran involved where is this going. aruba a girl is missing joran’s daddy didn’t pass the test to be a judge. is he mad or something? is he trying to show he know the laws by committing A CRIME AND BEING ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH IT> HE HAS SHOWN no real concern as a judge of law would be as a judge you have to be honest and equal to all. is he just evil that he would let his son get away with harming a human life. I say let jorans DADDY be punished for aiding and the delinqincy of a minor. who on earth would teach there child to be like that. if joran was my kid I would make him speak the truth I would drag him out there to find natalee. I couldn’t let him go to college when a girl (he was last seen with) is no where to be found.
The Nathalee Holloway case was irrelevant for the election, because Aruba has other problems to solve than to just give 100% attention to the case. The authorities are handling it and life goes on! The government has a job to do, and that’s to take care of Aruba and it’s people and those who visit the island. ARUBA’s LIFE can’t just stand still, because Beth and company wants to be everyday on TV and atack my island. Just like you guys over there in the states who have a life, family, work, school, festivities, so does Aruba.
The Election was won by the goverment in power and it was won with a majority. No political party has dedicated any time to the Holloway case, because everyone believes in the judicial system. If it has faults, those faults will be brought forward after the internal investigation is over.
To those who say they will never visit my island, so be it! Those who have since the incident I thank you and hope that you have truly seen what my island is all about and not what your media has been portraying.
OOH AND TO BRENDA who soooooo much believes in GOD and so much wishes punishment for my island in a religious way. Aruba is 90% catholic and the rest is PRotestant, Jewish, Evangelist, Anglican. The Aruban people are truly devoted to religion. We may have lost a bridge, but we have 3 others that for years have been forming. If we deserve sooo much punishment, why do you guys keep getting hurricane after hurricane, tornado’s, floods all the time, brush fires? Isn’t it a obvious that if you ask wrong for others OR DO WRONG TO others, it falls back upon you? Just a Religious point of view for MS. Brenda
I never ask harm to your island i am just a witness to it. i didn’t voodoo it to you. i didn’t ask for it to happen. I JUST CAN’T believe that someone can vanish from your lovely island and you all dont know why. being the young men you have running around are so gracious and love to show young pretty girls around town and they don’t have a clue why the pretty young lady is gone. sounds like an island i would want to visit not! yea life goes on for you and the island (no cares for the girl she is gone) you all will try to keep the money coming in, in anyway you can. pretend nothing happened and you all try to get the attention off it. wont work tho. everyone knows everyone. you all need to find the truth intill it’s told don’t sweep it under the rug. your island is pretty and all that but something has gone wrong this is a sign of lawlessness greed.