RSSIf Aruba Does not Care to Help & Protect Their Own … Why would they Care about Tourists?
The RED party is highly suspect as to whether Aruba can protect its own people against the 
pollution caused by Valero. They are questioning why there seems to be a greater number of cancer cases in the San Nicolas area than other areas of Aruba. What aspect of this issue has to do with the Aruban government just not caring for its people, or is it that they care less for the people of San Nicolas?
Much like they cared to blame two black security guards from San Nicolas for a crime they obviously did not commit. What are the people of San Nicolas possibly being exposed to and the tourists as well. Many a tourist go the the “Baby Beach” area in close proximity to San Nicolas and Valero. What could they be exposed to?
ORANJESTAD – Aruba is not capable to protect her own people against pollution by a multinational, concluded RED as a result of the answers of minister Booshi Wever (MEP) of Public health, Environment, and Immigration Affairs on their question about the pollution of Valero and the consequences for the public health.
In August of last year RED had asked the minister about the number of cancer cases in San Nicolas. Is the number of cancer cases in San Nicolas more than in the rest of Aruba? Does the oil refinery emit polluted chemicals and are these carcinogenic?
The RED party has asked minister Booshi Wever (MEP) of Public health, Environment, and Immigration Affairs a number of questions. All responses seem to be, I don’t know.
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The minister answered that he has no information on how many cases of cancer there is per district.
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But the minister says that the inquiry was not set up to check for inter-regional differences. In order to answer Red’s questions, a specific inquiry has to be conducted
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The minister does not have an answer on the emission questions either.
How indicative is this of everything that seems to take place on Aruba? No questions to serious issue and they are passed off as a nonexistent problem. Whether they be security, safety or health issues. All problems seem to be “no problem mon”. It appears that some in the government with to take some action; however, like all issues they are passed off under the guise of hoping the problem will just be forgotten and go away. Sound familiar? Do they care about anything? This is a country with a functioning government, right?
However, RED gives short shrift to Wever’s answers. “The answers are proof of the government’s mental deficiency with regard to Valero. “The government does not investigate the possible pollution of the refinery. The only thing the minister said is that when the wind turns and the smoke blows over San Nicolas, the school children get the day off. It is too sad for words that the government is dealing with the health of the people in this manner.”
Amigoe, January 31, 2007: The government does nothing to protect the public health
ORANJESTAD – Aruba is not capable to protect her own people against pollution by a multinational, concluded RED as a result of the answers of minister Booshi Wever (MEP) of Public health, Environment, and Immigration Affairs on their question about the pollution of Valero and the consequences for the public health.
In August of last year RED had asked the minister about the number of cancer cases in San Nicolas. Is the number of cancer cases in San Nicolas more than in the rest of Aruba? Does the oil refinery emit polluted chemicals and are these carcinogenic?
The minister answered that he has no information on how many cases of cancer there is per district. From information obtained from an inquiry conducted by the Public health Department in 2001, the minister concluded that there were about 700 cancer patients in a period of one year. The 700 includes new cases as well as old. But the minister says that the inquiry was not set up to check for inter-regional differences. In order to answer Red’s questions, a specific inquiry has to be conducted
EMISSION
The minister does not have an answer on the emission questions either. He indicated that the Public health Inspections and Environment, together with the Technical Service Inspection meet with Valero every other month to talk about the emissions of the refinery. He also mentioned that an air-monitoring program will start in the beginning of next year (2007, editor). This will be done in phases, due to limited instructions, financial means, and personnel. The minister also quoted the long-range investment program of Valero, with which it wants to lower the company risks and procure an improvement of the environment. Wever concluded that based on the information that several government services have, and the policy, it is clear that a lot is being done to improve the public health and environment.
MENTAL DEFICIENCY
However, RED gives short shrift to Wever’s answers. “The answers are proof of the government’s mental deficiency with regard to Valero. “The government does not investigate the possible pollution of the refinery. The only thing the minister said is that when the wind turns and the smoke blows over San Nicolas, the school children get the day off. It is too sad for words that the government is dealing with the health of the people in this manner.” RED also regrets the fact that the minister does not consider making Valero financially responsible for possible damage and force the refinery to set up a fund to help the cancer patients. Before a fund can be set up, we need to make sure that the people had gotten cancer from pollution coming from Valero, is the minister’s opinion. RED applauds the fact that parties in the Netherlands, like the SP as well as PDR in Aruba, that the have taken up a critical position against Valero. “Especially now that the government does not do anything to protect the Public health”, said RED party leader Rudy Lampe.
Posted January 31, 2007 by Scared Monkeys Amigoe, Aruba, Energy, Healthcare, Politics, Travel, World | 34 comments |
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34 Responses to “If Aruba Does not Care to Help & Protect Their Own … Why would they Care about Tourists?”
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All the more reason to stay away from Aruba.
WOW… how sad, the children are going to school right by it?How can you have a oil refinery on such a small Island? crazy….Doesnt anybody care???One sad pathetic Island..
it’s increasingly apparent that Aruba’s leadership is all talk and no action regarding every damaging issue to their blue collar population as well as their tourists.
how long will their own voters allow this? obviously until eternity it appears, why is this?
“The answers are proof of the government’s mental deficiency with regard to Valero.”
That, and any number of other topics, I’d say.
In fact, to label the Aruban government a bunch of mental (and moral) defectives is probably to give them too much praise.
Sounds to me like they’re trying to send Valero a signal that some “hush money” bribes would be in order to keep the peace. Hope that Valero tells them where to stick it.
Another beautiful day on Aruba’s abandoned beaches.
Hey Aruba, you may want to fix that soon, you know what happens when you get a reputation.
Hey does anyone know where Paulus was the night Natalee “just vanished”? Does Anita’s camera have the answer?
No statistics on crime, no idea about the carcinogenic effect on the population of the Valero oil refinery, no idea what happened to Natalee Holloway……
“Don’t look. It’s not there. It’s not happening. It’ll go away. Don’t look, don’t look, it’s not there……”
IT IS THERE! This policy of denial is hurting you Aruba!
Where is Anita’s camera?
Second verse, same as the first..
The government of Aurba is like a drunk, in denial of any problem. Drunk, in a stupor, and ignorant of the pain and suffering… the result of their self-indulgent behavior. They run their political parties like they’re social affairs with no regard to the safety of others. They line their pockets with the ins and outs of who they know, giving little regard for the others. They are co-dependent on one another in all their ineptness.
Is the Minister of Health a health professional, or is he just a good ol’ boy? Isn’t he the one that was arrested in Venezuela for possession of cocaine and “bought” his way out of trouble with $250,000 cash? Money, that he just happened to have on his person at the time? What was he doing with over 4 kilos of cocaine and all that money? Was he on a health mission for his people, or was he being engaged to make a deal on behalf of his friends?
I have heard, at least once, that the Ministers of Aruba neither have the education nor the morale to do anything for Aruba. Perhaps, that is why they have no answers for the many questions that their people have asked in regards to their health and the island’s practices in dealing with pollution. Maybe that is why their Minister’s skate around these questions, talking about non-existent reports and statistics that should have been done along time ago… Information that a Minister of Health should know, if not from the top of his head, but, atleast, something that he could promice to provide.
The truth is that the Minister of Health doesn’t REALLY do anything that is remotely related to the betterment of the people of Aruba, much less their health! He is just another good ol’ boy, drunk from his power, and in a stupor.
Laughing it up with his friends, the rich and famous, all legends in their own minds.
The systematic destruction, of their society and everything that is decent, is not necessarily an objective in his life. But his self-indulgent quest for self-righteousness makes it impossible for him to do anything for his people. He is not a health official, he is just another good ol’ boy having a drink with his friends… and holding an island captive, helpless, in their request for answers.
Just like Bleached Black said, the response from their officials is always the same:
Don’t look! It’s not there.
It’s not happening! It’ll go away.
Don’t worry… Be happy!
And the people of Aruba, through the systematic bias and prejudice that they have suffered for generation after generation, powerless, can only hope…
Boycott!
DIARIO ARUBA FP – HEADLINE
http://tinyurl.com/222w28
“Smuggler’s Blues” by: ex-Eagle Glenn Frey
The sailors and pilots, the soldiers and the law,
The pay-offs and the rip-offs, and the things nobody saw
No matter if it’s heroin, cocaine, or hash,
You’ve got to carry weapons ’cause you always carry cash
There’s lots of shady characters, lots of dirty deals
Every name’s an alias in case somebody squeals
It’s the lure of easy money,
it’s got a very strong appeal
Perhaps you’d understand it better
Standin’ in my shoes
It’s the ultimate enticement,
It’s the smuggler’s blues
Smuggler’s blues!!!
-J4N
As a wise man once said: “ARUBA BLOWS.”
And this polluting of the population in that community is the real reason that Alex Matthews was thrown in jail, drugged and beaten so badly he had to use a wheelchair and was kept in solitary confinement for almost two years in accommodations so squalid he did not have a roof over him on most of his cell.
He won his case in the World Court in the Hague against Aruba for violating his human rights, too. They built the new showplace KIA prison as a result of this exposure. But Paulus Van Der Sloot’s bestest buddy Ben Vocking who changed his name to King to try to hide from what he did was one of the ones involved in beating this man. Matthews was a kickboxer so they drugged him so he couldn’t fight back. He originally broke the jaw of Ben King during one of the initial beatings so guess King made sure from then on that Matthews was in no condition to defend himself from being beaten.
Now where would Joran get the idea to drug girls so they couldn’t fight back? Daddy and Uncle Ben taught the boy well. Bet he grew up to their laughing and telling stories of what they did to Matthews while he was too drugged to stop them.
Paulus was so supportive of Ben King during all this, King took off from his present job with the Office of the Prosecutor to help Paulus and is one of the two high ranking government officials, along with the judge, present to stop the search from covering the entire premises. That is some of the most blatant corruption I have ever seen. They could have at least pretended to hide it but they don’t even bother.
Guess he was returning the favor Paulus gave him when all the evidence against King disappeared in that case against Matthews in Aruba originally.
So we have here both drugging to beat somebody and force them to be subdued and the concealment of that fact and all supporting evidence.
Hey, Dad, you did it for Uncle Ben, can’t you do it for your own son?
Well, sure Joran and Uncle Ben will help me. He works for the Prosecutor and can help us make anything disappear.
That’s the Aruban way. Should we reward these people with our tourist dollars? I think not. I think they should be shunned by the entire world as long as things like this happen there.
Hey, Carpe!
Those look like my momma’s bloomers he’s got on!
I wonder if he’s got the brazier to match?
He’ll be a sure hit in KIA! Provided he ever
makes it there. Who knows, maybe they’ll just
take his drugs, give him a reward and send him
home to Daddy!
Don’t you wish our newspapers had pictures like that? I’ll
bet that would take a bite outta crime!
“Now, Honey, be sure to change your underwear before leaving
the house, you never know when you might be arrested.”
I love it!
Better keep that picture for future reference.
“Things you don’t want to happen on your way to the office”
OOOoops!
Brassiere: A woman’s undergarment worn to support and give contour to the breasts.
“Officer, I’m not a smuggler… that’s just padding!
My boyfriend told me that I was getting a little flat
back there, so I wanted to give it a rounder appearance,
you know, plump it up.”
“Cocaine? Oh, MY God! Well, I never! I got it from the kitchen cabinet. I thought it was sugar… Sugar?!?!?”
Good Night…
G’Nite Patti.
Hey, did ya hear that
the songwriter that composed
the HOKEY POKEY recently
passed away?
They had a little fiasco at his
viewing though…
Apparently, every time they’d put
his left leg in, someone would walk by
and put his right leg out!
awwww, you
know the rest. -J4N
http://tinyurl.com/yuqffp
LOL CARPE!
Thanks for the laugh friend!
Sorry to break the run of Aruba bashing, but has it not crossed anyone’s minds that this is a US company which is poisoning those kids, a San Antonio oil company.
I know we are all unhappy about Aruba’s handling of the Holloway case, but should we be blaming them for being used by a no scruples Texas oil company who can afford to pay more for lawyers than the whole of Aruba’s Tourism trade makes in a decade.
Its like blaming the Nigerian people for the mess that Shell has made of their country based upon a few well placed dollars. Anyone protesting tends to do a disapearing act.
__________
SM: You are joking right? You think the buck stops with Valero? Are you insane?
Its a governments job to protect its people … not run their lives. Any country has the right to regulate and safe guard its people against things that may cause health hazards. Why do you think they have a department and ministry to do so.
Get a clue.
R
cARPE, YOU ARE THE BEST….
Hey, folks, here’s something from the Australian government (never mind the part about boozing it up).
It seems that Australia isn’t afraid to warn its citizens about the dangers of the Caribbean. Listening, Uncle Sam?
http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Cricket/0,,2-9-839_2062824,00.html
Caribbean crime warning issued
01/02/2007 08:10 – (SA)
Sydney – The Australian government has warned fans attending the Cricket World Cup about high crime rates in the area and told them not to turn up drunk for their flights.
The foreign affairs department said in an official travel advisory that fans needed to be aware of safety issues at the World Cup, to be hosted by six Caribbean nations from March 13 until April 28.
“In some parts of the Caribbean, violent crime, including armed robbery, kidnapping and murder is common,” the advisory said.
“Violent crime is often gang-related and perpetrators may be armed. There is also a high rate of petty crime, including pickpocketing and bag snatching. Walking after dark, including on beaches, can be dangerous due to the increased risk of robbery and assault.
“Crime, including sexual assault and robbery, has also occurred after travellers have accepted spiked food or drink.”
They left out corruption and coverups of crimes, in Aruba in particular, other than that the Australian government nailed it pretty good.
I am so suprised another plaugue has struck,who knows Natalee may have found A CURE FOR THESE CANCERS.WE WILL NEVER KNOW.J4N
Kudos to the Australian government. The word is getting out and some goverments are not afraid to protect their citizens. Australia is beautiful, who’d wanna go to the Caribbean ?
18. Brad
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Brad, you claim that the “Aruban people” are dissatisfied regarding the handling of the investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. What have the “Aruban people” demanded of their government to make right this wrong?
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Brad, the silence from the “Aruban people” is deafening. This silence attests to many Americans that the “Aruban people” have bowed to the agenda of the Aruban Tourism Authority …. an agenda whose priority is Aruba’s image …. not justice for an eighteen year old American citizen.
.
Brad, the right to openly voice negative opinions regarding a perceived corrupt investigation that is denying a victim justice is derived from a foundation that identifies a free society.
.
DIARIO
November 19, 2005
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Aruba Tourism Authority wants to ask the community of Aruba to cooperate by not posting negative, vengeful, destructive and/or threatening messages on its ‘bulletin or message board’ of the official website of Aruba http://www.aruba.com or any other website.
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This type of message creates a negative reflection of the community that could and is affecting Aruba’s image to potential tourists.
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Aruba Tourism Authority has received notification that some travel agents who have said that they support and promote Aruba, but the fact that there are apparently people who are of who have said that they are from Aruba who are posting extremely negative messages. They have also expressed that they don’t want any American to come to Aruba anymore.
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To avoid this, post positive messages that demonstrate that Aruba is a good and civilized country. Despite of everything, we cannot forget that more than 70% of our visitors come from America.
.
SENATOR FRENCH
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Alabama News
November 9, 2005
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The Senate-passed resolution said a boycott is needed because the investigation into Holloway’s disappearance “has been plagued with an unacceptable amount of missteps, miscommunications and inconsistencies.”
“It’s my hope this will cause the Aruban people to be more demanding that their officials conduct a thorough investigation,” French said
Hey, you got me all wrong,
I am convinced that the Aruban government and police are as corrupt as hell. Furthermore it will be a happy day when the Kalpoles and Van der gutter get thier lot.
All I am trying to point out is that companies like Valero
come from the US, posion the environment and and innocent children are getting cancer, the fact that they are Aruban children should make no difference. Here one should be looking to Valero to stop the polution as there is no way that the Aruban government will do it, but should the children suffer beacuse of it ?
25. Brad
Brad, I apologize. I misunderstood your post.
Janet
Brad … question …
Who do you really think is responsible for Valero being on Aruba?
You do not think that a government has the ability to dictate what goes on?
What are the odds that Aruba looks the other way as to what Valero does for their own gain? Sound familair?
Aruba could easily pass standards that a company that does business on their island has to meet. Happens all the time.
A government turning their head and allowing big business to run amuck also occurs at the expense of their citizens.
Valero only gets away with what they are aloowed to.
R
If Aruba’s government doesn’t care about the well being of her own citizens, why in the world would an American oil company.
The refinery opened in Aruba in 1929 and subsequently, right or wrong, brought a standard of living to the island which probably would not have occurred. I remember about 20 years ago talking in Aruba with a Chemical Engineer from Venezuela. He told me the Arubian refinery would never be allowed to operate in the United States. True or not, I don’t have the expertise in the area.
My own suspicion is that the pockets of one or more government officials in Aruba are well lined by Aruban money, in return for overlooking any environmental damage.
I don’t think it’s relevant that Valero is an “American” company … judging from what I’ve read, we tend to be more honest than many other countries in our overseas operations.
But anyway, it’s cheaper for Valero, and more profitable for the Aruban officials, to pass money from hand to hand.
So I agree with Red; their own officials are letting them down. Not for the first time, I’m sure.
Valero Did Not Purchase The Refinery Until 2004
And Has Invested Over $600 Million To Improve It -
Here Is A Little History:
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A phosphate-exporting port from 1879 until 1915, Aruba’s second-largest town, San Nicolas, landed Esso’s Lago oil refinery in 1924. Once the world’s largest, the refinery attracted workers from other Caribbean islands, South America, and Europe. In 1942, U.S. troops landed to protect the complex, which supplied much of the Allies’ aircraft fuel during the war. By 1951, the town had a population of 20,000, far more than Oranjestad at the time. The refinery closed in 1985, devastating the town and the island. It reopened in 1990 with a new owner, Texas-based Coastal Oil, which was then sold to Valero in 2004. Now that tourism has replaced oil as the island’s major business, San Nicolas has waned in importance. One remnant of the town’s “port atmosphere” deserves mention: Prostitution is actually legal in San Nicolas.
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I Did Not Know That Prostitution Was Really Legal There
I Just Thought Taco Liked to Visit The Refinery Area For
“Research Purposes”
Yeah….words out jtaco likes em smoking! Thank you for the backstory on Valero!
Remember how they handled the last crisis with their last oil spill? Seeing is believing when we watched a couple of guys shovel alittle sand arround.
Yeah, interesting that all those other islands don’t want
those drums of oil being shipped to their islands. Just
imagine what might happen to you? All their people would
soon be drug addicts… slaves.
Most Governments know what to do for their people, Aruba
only cares what it can do for them. The chosen few that
drink from the cup, without it drinking from them.
They drink from their own cup that comes with pride and dignity… the cup that keeps their pockets weighed down in money and power, so they can look down upon their people.
Aruba: Your mothers are crying.