Boycott Not Having an Effect on Aruba? Nor is Natalee? … Better Check the Numbers (Arrivals drop by 13%)

An article in Amigoe states that Aruba’s cruise ship industry is up 88.06 percent in the past 10 years. They also state that the tourism numbers are up for January 2006 5.6%, an increase of 3686 visitors.

According to Kathleen Rojer of Aruba Cruise Tourism, the cruise tourism will grow even more. In January of 2006, the cruise tourism grew with 5.6 percent to 69.393 passengers compared to same month in 2005, which had 65.707 visitors.

However, before Aruba gets too gleeful they may want to check out the rest of the tourism numbers. Namely the ones from the Reina Beatrix Airport where the majority of the tourism comes in to Aruba. The tourism numbers were down for the last part of 2005.

Previous year came 1.7 million passengers from foreign countries to Aruba. According to Steinmetz it is now already certain that this number in 2005, is not obtained.

Now comes the shocking numbers for 2006 from Steinmetz, manager of Aruba Airport Authority from Aruba Bon Dia.

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! (Getagrip)

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. (Bon Dia)

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Amigoe: Tracker dogs arrived in Aruba, Search for Natalee Holloway

After nearly three months since the “credible tip” came in to Aruban authorities, “a delegation of four Dutch police officers and two special trained tracker dogs” arrived in Aruba yesterday to search the sand dunes. The lack of urgency has made many question the credibility of the tip and the motives of the ALE as to why this was not acted upon sooner. Also, there is another team that has still not even reached Aruba yet. What the delay there is, is anyone’s guess.

Amigoe; March 29, 2006: Tracker dogs arrived in Aruba

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.
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Mary Winkler’s Attorney Steve Farese will request Psych Evaluation

The attorney for Mary Winkler says his client is very depressed and very sad. Winkler was very somber during her court appearance the other day. With all the speculation as to the motive and the manner of the murder of her husband; Mary Winkler’s condition is some what understandable.
(The rest at Missing and Exploited)

Joran Van der Sloot Last Night with Natalee Holloway with Dutch magazine Nieuwe Revu

Joran Van der Sloot provided an interview regarding the last night he spent with Natalee Holloway to the Dutch magazine Nieuwe Revu.

“Everything had to be her way. At that moment, I thought: ‘We’re not going to have sex. I have exams tomorrow and I just want to go home, forget her.”

Rather interesting comments coming from an individual who seems the need to have everything his way. Joran Van der Sloot said no to his parents and went to Carlos N’ Charlie’s without permission. Supposedly doing the interview with ABC and Fox without his parents approval. Who likes to get their own way? Interesting.
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Gerold Dompig States in 48 Hours Interview that Radar System in Full-proof. REALLY?

Gerold Dompig during his CBS 48 Hours interview stated that experiments were done with dummies being thrown over board in the water; every time they drifted back to shore. The only way this would not occur was if a boat sailed more than two miles off shore. Dompig then stated, “a trip that would have turned up on police radar and been captured on tape. Police have accounted for every boat in the water the night Natalee vanished“.

Cruz says he and his team have tossed a dummy overboard many times, but that in every case, it drifted back to shore. The only way that wouldn’t happen is if a boat sailed more than two miles offshore — a trip that would have turned up on police radar and been captured on tape.

Police have accounted for every boat in the water the night Natalee vanished.

That is quite a different story compared to the Amigoe article back in November 2005 entitled, “Radar-system not watertight”.

ORANJESTAD — The radar-system that monitors the coastline is not watertight. People still manage to enter Aruba illegally from sea. This was stated by the general commander of Warda nos Costa, Gerold Dompig. His statement challenges the words of Justice-minister Rudy Croes (MEP) who closed a lease contract for the radar equipment last year.
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Barry Bonds is now a Victim; “I’m just trying to stay sane”

With the controversy surrounding Barry Bonds, that was pretty much brought on by himself, he now makes statements that his life is difficult. Complaining to the same press who he has made their life difficult over the years. A nice sense of irony. However, with the steroid controversy looming, the new book just released about Bond’s steroid involvement and his failed legal attempt to block it’s release; one could see how the pressure is mounting.

“My life is in shambles. It is crazy,” Bonds said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press. “It couldn’t get any crazier. I’m just trying to stay sane.”
(FOX Sports)

Want to bet it can’t get any crazier? Vegas is at even money it does.

Weather Forecasts: Northeast Due for Big Hurricane

Could New England be the next New Orleans? Some Meteorologists say the conditions are right.

Julia Renfro Pod-casting Discussing the Natalee Holloway Disappearance with C-Band Talk Network

Julia Renfro of Aruba Today did a pod cast with Dana Pretzer and The C-Band Talk Network. The following is the link to a rather long interview, but well worth listening to. The Renfro interview is in the second part of the show that starts at approximately 22 minutes in.

Sunday Night Satellite Interview

We will disagree with only one premise of the host, Dana Pretzer, and that is that Dompig regrets going the 48 Hours interview. Gerold Dompig had a gag order placed on him and was allowed to do this interview with the blessing of Aruban authorities. It was an intended trial balloon and smear piece rolled up in to one. All allegations and comments made against Natalee Holloway were based on speculation. It is one thing for people to discuss the case and speculate, but the lead investigator? Just one in the many of a long line of PR mistakes and investigative blunders out of Aruba.

Here are some of the more interesting exchanges and comments by Julia Renfro. Not too bias against the family and holding the Aruban government line.

Julia Renfro: “large groups of people have been canceling their trips to Aruba.”

Dana Pretzer: “You are a parent and I am a parent. This is a parents worst nightmare.”
Renfro: ” … the parents had lost their child, but they created massive chaos on an innocent island of 100,000 people.”

With regards to Julia Renfro watching the Joran Van der Sloot interviews she remarks, “I do not see an inconsistencies in what you see.”

Dana Pretzer towards the end makes a comment that is the crux of the story and the reason why so many have been drawn, captivated and demand answers as to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

The family has criticized the investigation. You will move heaven and earth to find your child. It is unfair to brandish the Twitty family themselves as reeking chaos on Aruba. They did what they had to do to get answers.

Tune in to this interview, well worth hearing.

Can the KLPD add enough professionalism to the fiasco in Aruba??

The KLPD meet the ALE

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt -‘06)

Dissecting the CBS 48 Hours/Gerold Dompig/Aruba Interview; Part I (Paulus Van der Sloot)

So what is Paulus Van der Sloot? Suspect? Person of interest? Victim? According to Chief Deputy Dompig, “he knows more”.

During the CBS, 48 Hours interview Gerold Dompig made some rather interesting comments based upon his theories as to what happened to cause the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. One of the more peculiar comments was Dompig’s reference that Paulus Van der Sloot was involved in the cover up and reburial of Natalee Holloway. Paulus Van der Sloot was arrested for three days this past summer and is presently suing the Aruba for false imprisonment.

Paulus van der Sloot was quickly released on judge’s orders, but the young men remained in custody.

Twitty says she is confident the three boys know what happened to Natalee.

Gerold Dompig has asserted that because of the special privileged nature of the conversations that Joran and his father had, coupled with the fact that Paulus was “a judge in training”, that advice was given and information passed between the two.

Dompig acknowledges Joran was afforded some special legal protections because he was 17 years old at the time of his arrest. Dompig says that did complicate matters. “Yes, that complicated matters seriously because he had more visiting rights with his father — his father being a judge in training was a problem for us because he could give his son certain advice.”

Then Dompig comes out with a bit of a shocker as compared to any of the negative comments that he makes towards the family. Instead this comment is directed towards Paulus Van der Sloot. Dompig accuses the elder Van der Sloot of being knowing more and being involved.
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