Aruba: Protest against the Choller Problem again … Why no Protests Ever for Natalee Holloway?

The Aruban protests against the Choller problem on their island continues. In all the Aruban travel brochures, web sites and ATA information we have yet to hear them talk about the “choller” problem and inform  the unsuspecting tourist. If the “choller” problem warrants people protesting in the street one would think that the traveling tourist would need to know of the potential risk.

(What the protest should have looked like)

The protesters are not sure whether this protest will help, because the problem with the chollers is too big …

What is more problematic to Aruba is that these protests show that Arubans are willing to go out and protest against certain issues they deem important. Some how the issue of “chollers” is important enough to protest, yet the manner in how the Natalee Holloway disappearance was handled and its negative effects on Aruba’s image and economy  and in turn Arubans was not. Chollers are an inconvenience? As compared to what, an economy that had declined in the past two years vs the rest  of the Caribbean that saw increases? All resulting following Natalee’s disappearance and the manner in how the investigation was handled. An image by many that still exists today.

… this second one focused more on the inconvenience of the chollers.   The protesters want the government to tackle this problem as soon as possible, by moving the relief center Dak riba Cabez elsewhere, away from the center of town.  

The protesters are not sure whether this protest will help, because the problem with the chollers is too big, and it won’t go away by itself.   But if nothing happens, the protesters will hit the street again.

Amigoe; Wednesday 25, 2007: Protest against the choller problem again    

Read more

Aruba’s May Want to Rethink their Promotion … Aruba, Island of Clowns

Aruba … Island of Clowns, who does their PR?

Sometimes stories just write themselves. There are also some promotions that maybe their organizers might want to rethink as to how one may be perceived on the whole. Aruba’s attempted promotion to get into The Guinness Book of World Records for Clowns might just be one of those … maybe we should rethink this moments.

One would think that maybe they would devote their time to more serious things like trying to solve the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Instead its all about “Clowning” around.

(Click on pic to enlarge)

Does Aruba really need this promotion to be perceived by many as an island of Clowns? The way that they have handled themselves in dealing with and investigating the disappearance of Natalee Holloway has all but done that. One would think that they would have no problem lining up enough people to break the “Clown” record.

More Clowns

Even More Clowns

Even More Aruba Clowns

Aruba Vacation … Arribe Aruba, NOT. Nice Try by the ATA … Aruba. “One Unhappy Island”

Recently there was a post in NY Metro regarding vacationing in Aruba. The article was an obvious pathetic attempt to get people to go back to travelling to Aruba in hopes that people will have forgotten that Aruba did nothing to provide justice for missing Alabama teenager, Natalee Holloway.

The lengths that the Aruban tourism will go to hide the fact they just wanted the Natalee Holloway story to go away is pathetic. Instead of providing justice, they just want everyone to forget. Fat chance.

Aruba got a bad rap after Natalee Holloway went missing in 2005, but those who know Aruba know the island is safe — and more than $250 million has been invested into its tourism industry, according to the Aruba Tourism Authority, with many hotel renovations wrapping up in recent months.

Aruba did not get a bad wrap. It was finally exposed for what it really is. A place where they want people to drop money and if something happens to a tourist they will at all cost hide, obstruct and interfere in an investigation. No one expects or ever dreams that something will happen when they go on vacation. However, if you travel to Aruba you now know that nothing will be done on your behalf to provide you justice. If you have no problem with that, then Aruba is the perfect place for you. If you are a self-centered individual who cares nothing of what happens to other, once again you have found the perfect destination.

Maybe the article could have be wrote as follows:

(Click on pic to enlarge)

Aruba: Hypocrites … MEP & Oduber call for Call for Boycott of Diario

Isn’t this priceless? The very people who have whined about a tourism boycott of the Aruban island are calling for a commercial boycott of an Aruban business. Aruban officials and their tourism boards have actively campaigned against the notion of a boycott by American tourists against Aruba in response for the handling of the Natalee Holloway case. Now MEP and their leader Nelson Oduber are calling for a boycott against Jossy Mansur and the Diario newspaper.

You can’t have it both ways folks. Not too hypocritical now are we? Complain when it hurts your economic interests and then call for boycotts when you wish to silence your critics. Democracy alive and well on “One Happy Island”.

Amigoe, April 4, 2007:  Diario turns to Queen  

ORANJESTAD – In an open letter, staff and management of the morning paper Diario have asked the Queen’s attention for the commercial boycott called by the MEP and her leader, Prime Minister Nelson Oduber.  

MEP demanded the owner and also director and chief editor Jossy Mansur to publicly apologize to MEP and premier Oduber for all the articles he has published with the intention to damage the reputation of the government and MEP.   Mansur has till last Monday to do this, otherwise, the MEP will announce a boycott against Diario.  

Since Mansur ignored MEP’s ultimatum, the party decided on a total boycott of the newspaper.   No information must be given to Diario.   MEP-member had to cancel their subscription as per immediate..   They are also not allowed to buy the paper separately.   They cannot place ads in the Diario.  

That’s the reason for Diario’s letter to the Queen.   He expressed his concern in this letter and asks the Queen to ‘safeguard our constitutional rights’.    

Protest Aruba in Boston … A Summary from Richard, “We the People”.

Tiananmen Square protests in 1989

(Special sign made especially for Beth Twitty & Natalee)

Some blogs are interested in hearing about the vigil at the Boston Globe Travel Show of March 23-25, so here’s my report.  None of us knew what to expect (I had never organized a protest like this before), but we all agree that it was a positive event in pressuring Aruba Tourism Authority and in keeping Natalee’s case in the public eye.  Apparently some of the TV coverage was played (I was told that my “exclusive” interview with the local Fox News, exclusive only because the other four people weren’t around at the time, did get aired.)

 

Read more