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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Labor Strike Continues in Aruba … Who Does it Really Hurt & What Must Tourists Think?

The labor strikes continue in Aruba, but ultimately who is being hurt by the protests? A strike is generally not supposed to hurt the very people that it is intended to help. A protest for higher wages destroying the very economy where the wages are derived. What a concept. Does anyone is Aruba not think that is a tourist was inconvenienced in any manner during their vacation that they will have anything good to say? Arubans are obviously unfamiliar with the concept that when an individual goes to a restaurant and has a good meal they tell a friend, when they have a bad meal, they tell 10.

A number of teachers indicated that they want to resume the classes for the students that need to take exams.  Vice-chair of Simar Anna Tromp said that she can understand that.  Several other teachers also indicated that they want to go back and prepare their students for their First Holy Communion. 

Hear no Evil, See no Evil and Speak no Evil Scared Monkeys in Houston, TX  at the Houston Travel Show standing with the girl and “Justice for Natalee”

One thing is for certain with the on going protests, strikes and boycotts taking place in Aruba … No one can say that individuals who protest for “Justice for Natalee” do not have a right to do so and that they behave themselves better than those striking in Aruba. The right to peacefully demonstrate is one of the corner stones of American Democracy.

Unions talk with governor (Amigoe: 4/21/2008)

The entrance of the Government Building was seriously damaged by fireworks this weekend.

ORANJESTAD – The demonstrating union members that gathered at DOW at the L.G. Smith Boulevard this morning, have blocked the entrance of the container harbour again.  The blockade was lifted when the lawyer of Aruba Ports Authority gave the demonstrators a letter, pointing out the illegality of the blockade.  The unions now hope that governor Fredis Refunjol will mediate in the long-term labour dispute.  The governor has met with the unions this afternoon.

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Aruban Public Workers Protetsts Destroying their Own Economy Affecting Cruise Ship Passengers

Aruba, you do not get a second chance to make a first impression. Imagine what the lasting impression was on the cruise  passengers this weekend when you blocked the entrance to the cruise terminal and caused utter chaos. The cruise ship passengers and tourists not only did not get off the boat, do you think they ever will return? If tours are being canceled, roads blocked and tourists are being affected in such an adverse manner, what would be the reason to even book a vacation to Aruba? A vacation is supposed to be just that, a vacation …. not a chore.

Due to the actions that extended to the cruise terminal, some cruise passengers decided to spend the day on their ship, instead of going shopping or taking a tour of the island.  A number of island tours were even cancelled.  Cab drivers on the the cruise terminal were angry, because they have missed income.  

The actions of the public employee strikes are very similar in nature to the actions of law enforcement, the justice department and the Aruban government in the aftermath of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Making decisions in matters without the slightest idea of the consequences that would occur and  affect tourism and the economy. Not just for the present, but for years to come. 

Entrance harbour blocked (Amigoe: 4/19/2008)

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Aruban Unions Bring lawsuit Against Oduber Cabinet … “No work No pay.” Sounds Like No Body, No Crime

No work, no pay … No body, no crime: both damaging to Aruba Tourism.

The public employee strike has gone on for weeks and continues in Aruba with no end in sight. Civil servants have blocked the road along the Government Building that caused chaos and huge traffic jams.  They have also blocked the access road to the harbor, at the office of Aruba Port Authority. Now, the civil servant unions united in SDA have instituted a lawsuit against the Oduber-cabinet where the government is not paying salaries based on the principle ‘no work no pay’.

ORANJESTAD – The civil servant unions united in SDA have instituted a lawsuit against the Oduber-cabinet.  The lawsuit is to prevent the striking civil servants from not being paid this month.  According to lawyer Edwin Duijneveld that represents the unions, the government is not allowed to withhold salaries based on just the principle ‘no work no pay’. (AMIGOE: 4/18/2008)

Doesn’t this sound hauntingly similar to “no body, no crime” of which the Aruban people sat on their hands and did not hold their police or government for answers into the disappearance and justice for Natalee Holloway?

What is further mind boggling is the abject ignorance of a strike for higher wages while the unions are in the process of further destroying Aruba’s economy and providing a lasting memory for those currently vacationing there. One where they will never come back again due to the “troubling” and “unstable situation” they were presented with while supposedly being on vacation.

Ahata-director Rob Smith said that the organizations cannot just sit still and let all this happen; the labour conflict is already damaging the Aruban economy.

The minister doesn’t understand why the social partners are just now taking actions, while they have been well informed of the situation and could have anticipated damages for the Aruban economy.

“With this invitation they want the government to handle on an irresponsible manner for Aruba and agree with what the unions are asking.  That has never happened before in the history of Aruba.” 

Unions take the Aruban government to court (Amigoe: 4/18/2008)

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American Airlines to Cancel Flights to Aruba … Concerned about the Unstable Situation in Aruba.

American Airlines send warning to Aruba … guarantee our planes can land without any problems or we will cancel fights!!! A note to the Aruban judges, do you still think that the strike affecting the Reina Beatrix Aruban Airport and planes landing on Aruba isn’t that serious? It’s good to see that American Airlines take safety seriously and the tourist is actually considered in this process, unlike the present situation in Aruba. American Airlines is threatening to cancel flights to Aruba until they can guarantee the their passengers safety and that planes can land without incident.

American Airlines has threatened to cancel all her flight for this coming weekend. That’s what the American airline company has told Tourism-minister Edison Briesen, says Prime Minister Nelson Oduber (MEP). Management of American Airlines told Briesen in an e-mail that the company is concerned about the ‘unstable situation’ in Aruba. The company also requests a guarantee that the airplanes can land without any problems this coming weekend. “If we cannot give them this guarantee, they will cancel the flights, and that is a very serious matter”, said Oduber.

Once again we are presented with a situation where the concerns of Arubans take precedent over the safety of the passengers and tourists who butter Aruba’s bread. Define irony … Aruban public workers striking and in the process destroying the very economy that provides tax revenues to pay their salaries.

“I regret the fact that they are trying to interfere with the landing and taking off of airplanes”. (Airport director Peter Steinmetz)

To make matters worse the cardinal sin of airports was broken when a false bomb threat was called in.

Steinmetz also confirms that there was a bomb alert last Saturday

American Airlines wants to cancel flights (Amigoe: April 15, 2008)

ORANJESTAD — American Airlines has threatened to cancel all her flight for this coming weekend. That’s what the American airline company has told Tourism-minister Edison Briesen, says Prime Minister Nelson Oduber (MEP). Management of American Airlines told Briesen in an e-mail that the company is concerned about the ‘unstable situation’ in Aruba. The company also requests a guarantee that the airplanes can land without any problems this coming weekend. “If we cannot give them this guarantee, they will cancel the flights, and that is a very serious matter”, said Oduber. Airport director Peter Steinmetz indicated yesterday that he regrets the fact that the public employees’ actions are concentrating on the airport. “I regret the fact that they are trying to interfere with the landing and taking off of airplanes. I am not saying that the actions aren’t rightful, but we are not really a party in this matter and we are only trying to drive the economic engine of Aruba.” Steinmetz also confirms that there was a bomb alert last Saturday, which turned out to be false alarm. An investigation on who did it is still going.

As Public Employees Boycott & Protest in Aruba … Let’s Remember What’s Really Important … Justice for Natalee Holloway

The protests and strikes continue in Aruba by public employees over higher wages as tourists come to Aruba and are presented with less that standard safety and service by the mere nature of the strikes. However, the question does come to mind … are the people of Aruba capable of protesting for a cause that is not as self serving as an increase in pay?

If the good people of Aruba actually had a clue, below is what their protests and strikes should have looked like over 2 1/2 years ago after Natalee Holloway went missing. Care about human life as much as you care about your wallet.

Aruba, imagine how prosperous your tourism would be and the image you would project to the world if your protests looked like this.

The truth of the matter is, if Aruba had provided “JUSTICE FOR NATALEE” there would have been no drop in tourism and the workers would have been able to maintain their wages and even get increases. Instead, they chose to sit on their hands and allow a miscarriage of justice and a joke of an investigation to occur.

To the people of Aruba … you still have the opportunity to do the right thing and demand justice in the case of Natalee Holloway.

Isn’t Tourism Supposed to be About the Tourist? Not in Aruba with the Airport Strike as Planes were Diverted

What part about tourism does Aruba not understand has all to do with the tourist? Keep it up Aruba, here is one sure fire way to further destroy your tourism. Maybe the AHATA would like to sue all the striking public employees as they tried to do with Greta Van Susteren?

Can one only imagine spending all the time planning, let alone saving for a vacation, only to have your plane diverted to another island due to striking airport employees. That is what happened to 4 planes that were bound for Aruba but instead her diverted to Bonaire, Curacao and Puerto Rico. Maybe the tourists should have made their travel plans to those locations instead. In past events when arriving passengers to Aruba saw the strike caused them to be troubled. At least they got to their intended destination. Or maybe that was actually a bad thing?

The airport of Aruba has missed four flights yesterday due to actions of the fire brigade.  Two Continental flights diverted to Bonaire and Curacao.  Also an American flight diverted to Curacao and one of US Airways to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The diversion of the 4 flights was an inconvenience for the passengers, mostly tourists, because it was not until they were in the aircraft that they heard that the aircraft received a different destination, without hotel reservation.  The diversion of the aircrafts had also consequences for the hotel- and the entire tourism sector.

Airport is coping with consequences of the strikes (Amigoe: April 9, 2008)

The airport fire fighters started their actions immediately after the verdict of the judge.

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Aruba Protests for Higher Wages, but not for Justice for Natalee Holloway … Arriving passengers were troubled

In Aruba a group of 500 to 1000 gathered yesterday morning to demonstrate for salary increases in front of the airport as incoming troubled tourists looked on. Think the protectors caused an inconvenience, you bet. What must tourists be thinking as they see the very people that provide their safety, security and conveniences on strike? Imagine getting off a plane for the first time and seeing this unrest. Think the tourists are asking themselves that they never remember this type of strife being discussed on the travel brochure. Aruba, think those tourists will ever be coming back again?

(Arubans public workers protest at Reina Beatrix International Airport)

After the judge decided last Saturday that the public employees are allowed to demonstrate in front of the airport, a big group marched with banners, drums, and slogans from the Simar-building to the arrival- and departure terminals of the airport.  The arriving passengers were troubled by this, because they couldn’t leave directly for their hotels by taxi.  Spokesperson of AAA, Hendrik Croes, said that the tourists had to wait in the arrival hall for about 45 minutes and they were not very pleased with this.  “The effect of the demonstration was the same as last time, when the intersection in front of the airport was blocked.’

People have asked why individuals are protesting Aruba in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. People have stated that a protest/boycott of Aruba only hurts the Aruban people who are not to blame for her disappearance or death. Aruba, life is not a one way street. Are not the protests by public employees harming all Arubans? Are not the protests harming tourists who have actually paid money to go a peaceful vacations only to have to encounter “troubling” issues.

What is most distasteful about the public employees strike is as follows. Everyone has the right to protest for what ever reason they deem important. However, it is almost unseemly that Arubans would come out in force and protest for higher wages, yet sit idly by on their hands when it came to protesting for “Justice for Natalee”. There is something just so distasteful and wrong about that very premise. Its obvious that Arubans know how to protest. Its also obvious that Arubans do not have an issue with protesting against their government. However, what also appears to be even more obvious is that the very island that begs for tourists to come to their “One Happy Island” also cares little to protest for justice if a tourist goes missing or dies there. There is something to ponder why contemplating a vacation.

New actions has started for this week (Amigoe: April 7, 2008)

Tourists were still troubled by the public employees’ protest march at the airport last Saturday.  The public employees, among whom many teachers, hit the streets again this morning (picture right).

ORANJESTAD – A big group of public employees, about 500 to 1000, gathered again this morning to demonstrate for salary increases.  Many teachers answered Simar’s call for strike.  At the time this paper went to press, we had no idea of how many students didn’t have classes today due to the strike.  None of the schools did close however.

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Olympics in the Free & Open Rights Society of China … What a Brilliant Idea this Was … Torch extinguished amid Paris protests

Since when are Olympic ideals a lack or better yet a representation of no human rights? I guess the question today is, what are the Olympic ideals?

When the 2008 Summer Olympics were given to China anyone who had a clue just sat back and scratched their collective heads. How could a country with such a terrible record of human rights be granted such a venue as the Olympics. What did they think was going to happen? Who could not have see these protests coming a mile away?

First the protests took place in London England.

The Olympic torch relay was hit by demonstrations by Tibet campaigners as it made its way through a snowy London today.

Police made 15 arrests during the morning as protesters tried to board the official bus, to jump in front of it, to put out the torch and to grab it off TV presenter Konnie Huq during her run.

Protests mar torch run

Pictures

What had been billed by the organizers as an occasion to celebrate Olympic sporting ideals turned instead into a daylong contest between China’s supporters and protesters.

Now the torch comes to Paris, France and so do the protests.

Olympic torch extinguished amid Paris protests

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Isn’t This Comforting. Civil servants are going to strike again in Aruba … Air traffic controllers Tower to be Staffed with Two People

Its ok in Aruba to strike when it comes to wages, but not safety. These are the same people that state that its wrong to boycott Aruba with regards to “Justice for Natalee”. However, its perfectly fine for employees to protest and put others in harms way in the process.

Tourist traveling to Aruba, be on guard … the air traffic control tower employees are on strike and the air traffic control tower will be only staffed with two people. There is some concern and safety for tourists flying to Aruba. It is simply amazing that individuals in Aruba will strike when its about the money, but do not strike, protest or even complain when its about justice. There also seems to be a general apathy when it comes to tourist safety, rather than the almighty florin. If Aruba thinks it has tourism issues now following the shoddy investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, they best hope and pray that nothings happens to any commercial flights while air traffic controllers are on strike.

The first walk out will be that of the air traffic controllers starting tomorrow at 13:00, and followed by a general strike on Monday from 08:30 on.

The employees working at the airport and in the harbour must inform the government of their actions 24 hours in advance.  The unions announced the action of the air traffic controllers in a letter to the government yesterday.  The tower will be staffed by just two people tomorrow from 13:00 till 18:00.

Civil servants are going to strike again (Amigoe: April 6, 2008)

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