Amigoe: Aruba’s autonomy under dispute (Wouldn’t this be interesting)

Amigoe; June 15, 2006: Aruba’s autonomy under dispute

Just when Aruba thought it had seen enough problems in dealing with the backlash of the Natalee Holloway investigation and the protests in the streets by Aruban over tax increases comes this interesting premise from Minister Alexander Pechtold (D66) of Kingdom Relations. He claims that Aruba has not complied with protocol for Independence.

He claims that at that time it was agreed that, in exchange for dropping the demand on independency, Aruba will set things right financially and governmentally.  Pechtold is of the opinion that the Netherlands can now tighten up, because Aruba has not managed to comply with the protocol.

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Main Stream Media, Where Are You? Ask the Question …”Does This look like a Crime Scene”?

.”Does This look like a Crime Scene”? If not, then what is going on here?

Where is Greta Van Susteren? Where is Rita Cosby, Joe Scarborough, Nancy Grace? Hell, where is Bill O’Reilly and Geraldo Rivera? Kimberly Guilfoyle? Anybody? We would ask Dan Abrams but he seems to have a new job.

Media, where are you in all of this? Please ask the questions.

Why has no one in the main stream media asked anyone in Aruba and close to the Natalee Holloway investigation what is going on in these pictures? The painted rock videos were first down loaded to the internet back on June 11, 2005. Why has this story never been discussed by the MSM when everything else has been?

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A CRIME SCENE?

How will we ever know if you do not ask the question?

WHO IS THIS MAN?

It hardly seems possibly that no one knows who he is.

WHY DOES THIS MAN HAVE A WHITE TARP AND WHAT IS HE DOING WITH IT?

The media has covered this story for over a year. These videos have been available since the outset of this case and yet there has not been one TV show that has actually gone on the record and asked anyone in charge what we are looking at. I would like to think that the Holloway and Twitty families have a right to know what this is all about. If it is nothing, just say it. They do deserve an explanation.

The following link provides numerous still photos from the videos of the “painted rocks” and other going-ons.

The painted rocks are in close proximity to the dunes and the California Light House, both areas that have been searched extensively.

WHILE YOU ARE ASKING QUESTIONS, WHY ARE THERE RENTAL VEHICLES AT IN THESE SCENES?

If it were an Aruban operation wouldn’t the vehicles have resident plates?

WHY IS THE VISIBILITY TEAM HERE AND NOT THE ARUBAN POLICE?

Is it a coincidence that Willem van Cromvoirt is a part of the Visibility Team and owns a video surveillance company? And GVC was arrested as a suspect?

MSM, WHILE WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION … DOESN’T THIS PROFILE LOOK FAMILIAR?

Isn’t it worth the question just to ask?

Will someone in the media step up to the plate and simply ask what is going on. It seems rather coincidental that these taped are down-loaded to the internet at the very same time and right after the “something bad happened” “something bad happened” story was reported. Also on June 11, the false rumor was reported that “Police Have Confirmed the Death of Natalee Holloway”.  

All anyone wants is answers. Of course in order to get answers, questions first need to be asked.

(Hat Tip: Klaasend)

Keith Olbermann Shows the class act that he truly is. What are your Ratings like these days Keith?

Keith Olbermann has acted like a pompous buffoon for years. His show “Countdown,” “Meltdown”or “Down for the Count” or whatever’s ratings usually never wind up on the radar screen and it is no wonder. I know of no one that actually admits watching it was it is almost unwatchable. It is amazing that it is actually on the air.

There may be some truth to the rumor that the US military in GITMO force the prisoners detained there to extract information from them. It is said to work quite well and prisoners would rather sing like canaries rather that be forced to watch one minute of ”Countdown With Keith Olbermann.”

Keith Olbermann’s latest meltdown and ill advised stunt was to write in an email a most unflattering comment about fellow MSNBC cable host, Rita Cosby of “Live & Direct” fame.

“Rita’s nice,” Olbermann wrote to a fan from his MSNBC E-mail account, “but dumber than a suitcase of rocks.”

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Tourism News Still Terrible for Aruba; More cruise ship passengers; less stay over tourists

Amigoe; June 13, 2006: More cruise ship passengers; less stay over tourists 

Cruise ship passenger are reported up in Aruba; however, stay over tourists have dropped to disastrous levels. Aruba can spin these numbers all they want, a cruise ship passenger and a “stay over tourist” are not created equal.

The figures of the Central Bureau for Statistics show that more than 75.000 cruise ship passengers visited Aruba in March.  That is 15 percent more that in March of 2005. 

The growth in February was 8.9 percent compared to same period in 2005.  The growth in the first three months of this year was 9.9 percent.  Tentative numbers for April show a drop compared to same month in 2005.

However, the room occupancy, room average proceeds and airport were disastrous. It has been stated in the past that no one was going to cancel a cruise if one of the ports of call is Aruba and while there are several other Caribbean spots on the itinerary. However, people were going to make a conscious choice not to go out of their way to visit Aruba due to the manner in how they handled the Natalee Holloway investigation. That prediction has come true and come home to roost for Aruba.

One does wonder though whether these cruise ship passenger numbers are being inflated by Aruban officials. Are they counting individuals who actually Dis-embarked from the ship to Aruba or only passenger head counts that booked the complete package cruise where Aruba just happened to be a port of call? If the latter, there is no guarantee that the cruise ship passenger ever got off the ship in Aruba. However, the main number that effects Aruba the most are the airport and hotel numbers. Those were down again as expected.

Compared to March 2005, the average room occupancy of the hotels dropped with 29 percent.  Almost 135.000 stay over guests were registered, which is 55.000 less than last year.  Also the average proceeds per room dropped with 11 percent to 199.12 florins per room. 

The airport of Aruba registered 70.753 departing passengers, which is a decrease of 12 percent compared to March 2005, when 80.000 departing passengers were registered;

Is there any wonder why Arubans are protesting in the streets over increased taxes? Increased taxes from the fact that the Aruban government’s tax revenue from tourism has been severely hit. Who could not have seen any of this coming? What did Arubans think was going to happen when tourism dropped off 2, 5 or even 10%? In this case it is much worse. Now Arubans protest, after the damage has been done as opposed to protesting for “Justice for Natalee” to prevent the tourism decline from occurring.

AM Digital

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Let’s really look at the numbers. 30% less room occupancy. Out of 30% less people staying in rooms, there was an 11% decrease in the room rate as well. It needs to be pointed out that this also occurred during Aruba’s high season. Another 12% decrease in passengers at the airport. Imagine the loss of revenue from these decreased tourism for restaurants, taxi’s, shop owners and all the other secondary tourist businesses?

All they ever had to do was treat this case as they would have any other crime on the island and not shown an overt favoritism. If they had just treated this case in a respectful manner and the family with that same respect, none of this would never have occurred. What an expensive lesson to learn, but none more expensive that the Holloway’s and Twitty’s losing Natalee.

US Treasury Identifies International Financial Network of Colombia’s Notorious North Valle Drug Cartel

The US Department of the Treasury added more individuals and companies to the SDNT list in the war on drugs as such entities and people act as fronts for the drug trade out of Columbia. Ever wonder why the FBI may never have been given a greater role in the Natalee Holloway investigation? And what ever happened to the DEA agent that Beth Twitty met her first night in Aruba?

The assets of a total of 1,260 business and individuals in Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, Vanuatu, Venezuela, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the United States have been designated by OFAC pursuant E.O. 12978.

Full story via The US Treasury:

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today added five individuals and twenty companies tied to Colombia’s North Valle drug cartel to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs).  The five individuals act as front persons for North Valle cartel leaders Raul Alberto Grajales Lemos (Raul Grajales) and Carlos Alberto Renteria Mantilla (Beto Renteria).  Both Raul Grajales and Beto Renteria have been indicted in the U.S. on charges relating to narcotics trafficking. 

“Today’s action exposes a key financial network of the North Valle cartel,” said Barbara Hammerle, Acting Director of OFAC. “This network utilizes front companies in Colombia, the United States, Panama, and the British Virgin Islands to move its illicit proceeds.  By exposing the financial backbone of Colombian drug cartels through our designation process, we thwart their ability to launder illicit proceeds.”

The four newly named Colombian individuals, Francisco Javier Duque Correa, Ricardo Jaar Jacir, Moises Abdal Saieh Muvdi, and Carlos Ernesto Saieh Jamis, represent the interests of Raul Grajales and Beto Renteria in the operation of Casa Estrella ( see “Important re Business with Grupo Grajales 05/19/05”) and associated companies. Casa Estrella is a department store chain located in Colombia that was previously named as an SDNT by OFAC in May 2005. This activity is carried out in attempts to hide the North Valle cartel’s control of the department store chain. 

Francisco Javier Duque Correa is the general manager of Casa Estrella and has been an associate of Raul Grajales for the past 16 years.  Ricardo Jaar Jacir, a share holder in Casa Estrella, is the half brother of Armando Jaar Jacir, a key front person for Raul Grajales and Beto Renteria who was previously designated by OFAC in November 2005.  Moises Abdal Saieh Muvdi and Carlos Ernesto Saieh Jamis have been business associates of Raul Grajales and Beto Renteria for the past 15 years and are also shareholders in Casa Estrella. 

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Amigoe: First Caribbean Tourist Safety conference: ‘Make the police part of the tourist product sales’

It seems that the “First Caribbean Tourist Safety Conference” still does not understand the impact of Natalee Holloway in the United States. The safety issue comes into play; however, Americans are upset and not going to Aruba more for the way that the investigation was handled and how the government, ALE and prosecutors office has treated the family of a missing person. Its more than just a safety issue. Its a matter of why would a tourist have any piece of mind if something happened to them that they would have any confidence that the island police would do the right thing. They have witnessed a botch investigation, intentional or through incompetence, and realize it could have been them. Many have suspected that favoritism ruled the day in the Natalee Holloway investigation and there was a strategic cover up from the beginning.

“Aruba should invest a lot of money in the promotion of the safety on the island.  Aruba had done nothing to brush up her image after the Holloway-affair.  At least, I haven’t seen that.

The competition is not only determined by the travel distance, but especially by the safety image of the vacation destination.  Tourists go to destinations that have a good reputation, where it is safe. 

No, tourist will now go where they believe they will not have to deal with corruption or be insulated and treated like a criminal when someone in their family has a crime committed against them. Why would anyone pay money to be treated like this? To get no answers, have no real competent investigation and be blamed for the investigations failures. In a tourism industry where the “customer is always right”, Aruba seemed to have another agenda.

Safety is one issue. However, doing a proper investigation, making arrests and searching people’s homes no matter who they are or what political connections they may have makes a difference. No one thinks anyplace is 100% safe; however, they do expect a crime to be properly investigated without corruption. How exactly does the “First Caribbean Tourist Safety Conference” expect to change that perception.

Its not the walk on the beech that many worry about, its the fact that the police will cover up any reported crime, never adequately investigate or just hope that the victim leaves an island never to return. That’s the issue. How many crimes, assaults, etc have been reported in Aruba and have never been investigated? They wait for the victim to leave the island and the reported incident becomes out of sight, out of mind.

Amigoe; June 13, 2006: First Caribbean Tourist Safety conference: ‘Make the police part of the tourist product sales’ 

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Mary Winkler Indicted for First Degree Murder of Husband Matthew Winkler

Mary Winkler, the wife of Tennessee pastor Matthew Winkler, was indicted for premeditated murder of her husband. Mary Winkler had previously confessed to the murder of Pastor Matthew Winkler.

(Full story)

Jossy Mansur interview - Podcast replay

Don’t miss last nights Jossy Mansur 45 minute interview and call in questions.

(Click on Icon for link to podcast)

Restrictive covenants are a “Simple Life” Blessing when Paris Hilton Moves Next Door

People often complain about restrictive covenants in neighborhood communities. Sometimes they may be a good thing. However, when Paris Hilton comes to town with “The Simple Life” crew and moves next door to you, it may be the one time you wish you had one.

Check out the house that could be the one next door to you. There goes the neighborhood. I thought this show was off the air? If not, why not?

Holland Does Not Appear Happy with Caribbean Common Court of Justice nor Aruban Legal administration. Are Changes not far behind?

It would seem like big brother Holland is looking to make some changes and centralize control of the legal system in the “Partners in the Kingdom”.

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(AM Digital)

Mike Eman of AVP states that Holland’s position stems from the fact that Holland has “taken notice of the doubtful administration of our (Aruba’s) legal system.”  Eman also went on to say, “Aruba has its own Public Prosecutor who is not functioning properly.” Where did he ever get these notions from?

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(AM Digital)

(Hat Tip: Klaasend)