Central Bank of Aruba Says Aruba in Further Economic Decline … Aruba Haunted by Natalee Holloway

Down down, down … and once again, it is not the B-52’s singing Lock Lobster.

Just when Aruba claimed it was safe to go back in the water and things were better in Aruba following the turmoil, unrest and distrust from their actions in dealing with the investigation of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the Central of Aruba now says Aruba is in further economic decline. Tax revenues down, overnight visitors down, number of residing visitors down, cruise ship passengers down, cruise ship visits down and the average inflation over twelve months increased with 0.4 percent points to 6.8 percent, compared to the same month in 2008

The Central Bank of Aruba (CBA) concludes that the Aruban economy is declining further. The revenues of the ‘bbo’-tax in March dropped with 8.7 percent compared to the same period last year. The revenues are a reflection of the profit mainly generated in the month before.

The number of overnight stays on the island during the months of February and March decreased, as well as the number of tourists residing on the island, as previously known. The number of residing tourists during the months of February and March decreased with respectively 7.7 and 13.3 percent compared to the same months in 2008. The number of overnight stays decreased with respectively 6.2 and 10.7 percent.

In addition, the number of cruise passengers in the month February decreased by 9.3 percent, according to the statistics from the Cruise Tourism Authority. There were also less cruise ships, approx. 23.1 percent less. According to the figures of the Central Bureau for Statistics, there was a decrease in the average occupancy of hotels and timeshare in February as well as in March of respectively 4.8 percent points to 83.7 percent, and 6.2 percent points to 78.8 percent, in comparison with the previous year.

Those in Aruba claim that the black cloud that surrounded the aftermath of the botched, incompetent and corrupt Natalee Holloway investigation has lifted. That it is safe to travel to Aruba. Really? Make no mistake about it potential tourists to Aruba, they can claim it is safe; however, when the time came to properly investigate a crime committed against a tourist, they did not.

Aruban authorities, investigators, tourism officials, government officials and media types all did their best to obstruct a criminal investigation. To this day, no one has been convicted or even tries for a crime. Even when incriminating statements have been made and even confessions. The last three people who Natalee was seen with leaving Carlos n’ Charlies, Joran Van der Sloot, Deepak Kalpoe and Satish Kalpoe all walk around as free men.

Aruba wants you to forget. Do not allow that to happen. Who is willing to take the chance that if “something bad happens” no one on Aruba is willing to do the right thing if the people connected to the crime, are connected.

The fact that their economy is floundering once again only goes to show that Natalee will haunt them forever until justice is served … “Justice for Natalee”.