ATTENTION ARUBA
Aruba's postcard image comes under siege
Its longtime reputation as one of the region's safest places is coming under scrutiny.
Just 15 miles north of Venezuela, the small, multi-ethnic Dutch protectorate is known for its dry, sunny climate, expansive beaches and lively nightlife, including 11 casinos. And, says the guidebook Frommer's Portable Aruba, a "low crime rate is the envy of nearly every other island in the region. Where else would you see tourists over 60 and women in their 20s hitchhiking without a qualm? Aruba's boomed in the past couple of decades, and the rapid changes and influx of new people have disturbed the way of life a bit. ... But you may find that you feel safer in Aruba than at home."
That status was challenged by Holloway's disappearance May 30. Detailed crime statistics are hard to come by: In 2003, the most recent year with available data, there were 4,236 crimes, though no specifics on those against tourists. According to Aruba's attorney general, five homicides were reported last year. But police have not provided a breakdown of offenses since 1995, says Martijn Balkestein of the Central Bureau of Statistics. (Related story: Travel firms feel little fallout)
The U.S. State Department's travel advice for Aruba states "be careful when ordering beverages in local nightclubs and bars, especially at night" and "U.S. citizens should not hitchhike or accept rides from strangers."
But the State Department's 2005 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report notes that "while Aruba enjoys a low crime rate, prominent drug traffickers are establishing themselves sporadically on the island ... drugs are easily found within walking distance of Oranjestad's cruise pier and are frequently peddled to cruise ship tourists. The expanding use of (Ecstasy) in clubs by young people attracts increasing attention."
Says Justin McNaull of AAA Travel: "The reality of travel is that you can get mugged anywhere, (and) the greatest danger to Americans traveling abroad is car crashes. If this stands up as being an isolated incident, it's unlikely to have a long-term impact."
6 comments:
I fully agree, we need to boycott Aruba...get their attention,I have a grandaughter wanting to go there,But I will not let her go..for graduation!!!!i WILL PAY FOR A trip somewhere.... -not there!!!!I think everyone should put themselves in Beth's shoe..Unless you have lost a child in this manner ..You don't have a clue....Georgia -Dallas, TX.
Michelle,
Have you every thought of the fact you may be WRONG. Say your boycott is successfull and you bankrupt this little island. Do you really have any idea of the suffering you will do to these innocent people. Or do not care as long as you get what you want. If you know they are covering something up put up your evidence. Show us these facts you seem to have that the rest of the public does not have access too. BTW Statements from Beth is not evidence. She has made claims and when question on them she either will not or does not back them up. So I want to know how you can call for a boycott of a country that you know nothing about. How can you demand thing from their justice system that your own would not give you. How may people are missing from your home state. Are you calling for a boycott? Alabama has several young women missing and the famlies claim the police are not investigation properly. Are you going to call for a boycott of Alabama? I too want to know what happen to Natalee, but I am not willing to burn down an entire country for her disappearence.
As I've said to you people before...which you don't seem to understand is that if a person is missing in the U.S., we don't boycott a state. That doesn't make sense whatsoever. We are boycotting until the family gets answers from the ALE and all authorities involved. Be pissed at YOUR OWN government for the cover-up, not us. If your island suffers it's your government's fault...not Americans or Beth!
Give me your evidence of a coverup and I will agree. Ok yes boycotting a state makes no sence because it is within your own country. So what if your daughter got lost in Germany? Would you boycott Germany? Just because it is a small Island does not mean you can take advantage of it. An what is with this term you people? Did you know that to categorize poeple like that is a form of racism? Also we cannot be mad at our government because our government has no control of any police investigations as it is in Holland( and if i may say most of europe). The reason no one is releasing any evidence or anything is because they are by law not allowed to. So I as you very kindly to respect our laws and give us a chance to conduct our investigation properly, these things take time. (The BTK killer case took 30 years to be resolved by the FBI).By creating this boycott people are damaging ,evenmore, US foreign affairs with other countries. We are very fair and kind people and have done and are doing asmuch as we can in this case. We have had F-16 fighter planes with sonar equipment come all the way from holland to help. The people of Aruba have prayed for Natalee, have looked for Natalee. So please do not return the kindness with hate and anger. We are doing what we can. And all these false images of Aruba being created are untrue. I mean we have 1 person go missing and we are criticized for it. Would you please look at your own state and can you honestly tell me this is fair? I know our Island isn't perfect and some of the people aren't either, but human's aren't perfect. There is always a bad seed. Nothing that is natural is perfect, and humans are part of nature.
Now that was an INTELLIGENT argument. Thank you.
I guess a lot of the anger resides in the fact that the ALE, cops, (whatever) laughed it off from day one, and didn't investigate the boys for 10 days. The police asked Dave how much money he had. They referenced to her being in a crack house. That was not professional.
I am not against the aruban people at all. So I apologize for saying "you people"...when I say that I mean the authorities.
See...I can be nice when someone presents a concise argument!
PS--If something exactly like this situation happened in Germany I would boycott them as well. Just my opinion.
The issue isn't the people of Aruba, who seem content to take in whatever lies they are told.
The issue is the very small colonial government that runs Aruba, and that seems to consist mainly of Dutch, sent there from abroad.
And, of course, the network that allows the importation from Curacao, "to avoid bias," of a judge known to be a family friend of the van der Sloots.
Arubans elected their officials, and if their officials are corrupt, will unfortunately bear some of the consequences.
It's interesting that the startling developments in the case, from the Aruba side, usually came out late on Fridays. For example, the release from prison of the three main suspects ... to the astonishment of the detectives interrogating them.
One might think the major goal of the Aruban government was to try to time the news cycle ... but I guess that would be a cynical statement.
Post a Comment