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.