Aruban Tourism … Right From AHATA Rob Smith’s Mouth … “Helpfulness doesn’t mean that you must take up a submissive position”

Welcome to Aruba, One Happy Island … where hospitality and being helpful is looked upon as being submissive. Aruba, how do you really feel about tourists who come to your island? A better question is, tourists … how do you feel spending your hard earned money and being looked upon as a burden? Just when you thought you have heard it all.

Ever wonder what is really wrong with Aruban tourism? If one ever wondered why such a callus attitude was taken following the disappearance of Natalee Holloway and the almost blaming of the victim and her family for the disappearance rather than holding the criminals responsible for the obvious crime that occurred. One needs to take a look at the following to understand. The following comments wins the WTF moment of the week. What a shocker that it comes from Aruba and has to do with tourism.

 … there are sufficient possibilities to move on financially as well as professionally.  The most important message of Ahata is that Arubans distinguish themselves by their hospitality and that the passion to be helpful must be stirred again.  “Helpfulness doesn’t mean that you must take up a submissive position” (Rob Smith)

Submissive position??? What??? People in Aruba think that being hospitable and helpful is being submissive??? OK, wake me because we are obviously in the twilight zone. The comments come from the head of a AHATA, Rob Smith and speak volumes of the attitude that has to exist in Aruba toward tourists. Why else would Rob Smith say it if it was not an issue by many Arubans.

(Classic Vanderbilt)

So much for the customer always being right. Aruba, a Caribbean island where 70% of their economy is based off of tourism and the head of tourism is telling the Aruban people that being friendly and nice is not submissive. In other words, its not a bad thing and that they won’t be disrespected if they are nice. WOW!!!

Ahata: ‘1000 openings in tourism’ (Amigoe: 5/14/2008)

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Aruba: First Quarter Deficits Over 100 million Florins already … A Sign of Things to Come

Budget deficits in Aruba …

For the first quarter of the year Aruba is already showing a 100 million florin budget deficit. Over government spending could be one cause; however, do not think that anticipated revenue from taxes from visiting tourists is also not part of the problem as well. Tourism is still not yet at pre-Natalee Holloway disappearance numbers, energy costs are higher and people are not spending as much in vacations. Opposition AVP leader claiming that budget deficit is because of MEP’s excessive expenses for the apparatus of government. However, these issues never used to happen during the Aruban tourism bonanzas.

Deficit first quarter 100 millions already (Amigoe: 5/14/2008)

AVP-leader Mike Eman and his wife Doina have surprised elderly mothers with their visit.  The couple was accompanied by the well-known folklore singer Robert Maduro, who gave the elderly mothers a serenade.

ORANJESTAD – The budget deficit in the first quarter of 2008 is about 100 million florins, concluded opposition party AVP after comparing the budget for the current year with the figures of the income from income-, import-, and excise taxes in the first three months.

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Aruban Minister Booshi Wever Suing Diario, Freedom of the Press, Not in Aruba

In Aruba, words are more offensive than individuals actions …

It appears that once again an Aruban political official is suing Jossy Mansur and Diario for of defamation. Minister Candelario (Booshi) Wever is suing Diario claiming that his reputation was tarnished by statements made in Diario. So much for freedom of the press or free speech.

The minister says that ‘desgraciado’ is one of the worst insults in Papiamento.  That word is translated as ‘unhappy’ in the Diccionario Avanza of Jossy M. Mansur (also director of Diario), but in the normal linguistic usage, the meaning is much stronger and very offensive.  The article also insinuates that the minister is the owner of a brothel in Venezuela and that Wever’s days are numbered and that he will feel the Colombian Community breathing down his neck.  That is actually the reason why the minister instituted the lawsuit to demand a rectification from Diario.  

Is it any wonder why Aruban officials could not cope with the American press during the Natalee Holloway disappearance and investigation? These people are more worried about what is said about them than the actual facts that transpire during a story. Its not always the politicians, but the people themselves. Was there anything more heinous than Beth Holloway, the mother of missing Natalee Holloway having to apolgize to the Kalpoe’s for comments made when all signs pointed to the fact that they were some how involved at took part with her daughters disappearance.

Booshi Wever wants to see his name cleared (Amigoe: 5/10/2008)

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Teachers Union Chairman Sues Education Minister Marisol Tromp for Offensive comments During the Strike

The teachers union chairman has taken the Education Minister Marisol Tromp to court over offensive comments she made during the strike. Could these people possibly be any more thin skinned? You are suing because she “hurt you with her words”? How pathetic is that? Seems that these type of ridiculous lawsuits get heard while real crimes go un-noticed and un-prosecuted.

Aruba: where words are legal actions and crimes against Natalee Holloway are not

Van Varsseveld is of the opinion that the comments Minister Tromp made on TeleAruba on April 7, 2008 were offensive and a slur on his professional ethics. 

In the TV-broadcast, Tromp questioned the education capacity of Van Varsseveld.  He would be held responsible for bad school results and students doubling the year, if the strike had continued, said the minister in the broadcast.

Chairman teachers’ union takes education-minister to court (Amigoe: 5/6/2008)

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Justice for Aruban/Antillean homo-boat, but Not Natalee Holloway … JUSTICE FOR NATALEE

More priorities out of Aruba and the Antilles.

Once again we are presented with the priorities that take place in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. Aruban/Antillean “homo-boat”, yes … Justice for Natalee, no! What a shining example that you continually set for future tourism.

Bon Bini Events, organizer of Aruban parties, assumes the organization around the Aruban/Antillean gay boat.  The Gay Pride in Amsterdam takes place from July 28 till August 3 inclusive.  The parade of boats takes place on August 2.

The presence of a gay Aruban/Antillean boat shows that all things are possible if they are pushed to go so. Then why is it more important for this Aruban/Antillean “homo-boat” than it is for Justice for Natalee?

Antillean boat on Gay Pride (Amigoe: 5/2/2008)

WILLEMSTAD/AMSTERDAM – An Aruban/Antillean homo-boat is for the first time going to officially take part in the parade of boats during the annual Gay Pride in Amsterdam.  

“It is time to show our face.  With this boat we give openness and evidence to homosexuality within our own culture”, said Charlene Oduber, chair of Epoca Nobo Foundation to the Gay Krant (paper).

“Homo-emancipation within the Aruban and Antillean community can only be done by us.  Dutch organizations often talk on behalf of Aruban and Antilleans, and it is well-meant.  It therefore looks as if homosexuality is something typical Dutch.  And it is this that had a disturbing effect on the social acceptance of Aruban and Antillean homosexuals within our own community.”

Bon Bini Events, organizer of Aruban parties, assumes the organization around the Aruban/Antillean gay boat.  The Gay Pride in Amsterdam takes place from July 28 till August 3 inclusive.  The parade of boats takes place on August 2.