The "Natalee Holloway" movie on Lifetime was more of a twisted reality of a drunken Mother.

I love true story movies, but a movie about something 100.000 persons lived for over 4 years, that had nothing to do with the reality... that I don't like. Last nighte Lifetime Movie Network premiered the movie about the Natalee Holloway case, based on part on a book filled with unreal events that happened during the summer of 2005 and years after.

In the first 15 minutes, you can already see that the producers did not even follow the lies the mother wrote in her book, but created their own.

But some facts supported by witnesses and statements in hand of the police:

- Beth Reynolds arrived in Aruba by sunset (as depicted by the movie and some statements by the mother herself on National TV, but not like she wrote in her book).

- The mother arrived on a private jetplane with already made posters with the word "KIDNAPPED", did not make these on the island, as depicted in the movie.

- She received the call on her cellphone while driving on the interstate and was over one hour far from her home (as claimed in her book and on National TV), not as depicted in the movie that she received that her friend's house and was immediately home after speeding.

- Natalee was only 18 while Joran v/d Sloot was 17, a minor.

- The home of v/d Sloots was depicted as a mansion trying to portray the family as millionaires, while in reality they lived in a modest home, no high walls or gates and no expensive or exotic cars.

- In the movie, they depicted the mother walking unexpectedly in a copier/internet place where she confronted one of the Kalpoe brothers and talked nicely to him, while in reality, this was a setup by the mother, where she was all mic'ed up and had cameras with her when they drove all the way from the hotels to confront one of the Kalpoes at his work, and insulted him as can be seen on the FoxNews film. That was the reason why the lawyers send her a letter to back-off from the Kalpoe brothers.

- In the movie she was depicted as a crying mother, calling for other nations not to let the Kalpoe brothers walk free in their countries, because they were criminals that committed a crime against her daughter. In reality, the next day, the mother had to retract those statements since she had no evidence of what happened to her daughter and the police nor the FBI had any evidence that a crime was committed. This of course was not shown in the movie.

What we missed in the movie:

The thousands of local men and women looking all around the island for her daughter and the hundreds of police and marines searching.

The parties Beth Twitty organized weeks after she first landed in Aruba, Casino nights, gambling, free food (Hooters and Tony Roma's), lodging and booze at local restaurants. Even having champagne with other American reporters at fancy restaurants (Hostaria d'Avitorrio), on account.

The millions spent in the investigation, the F-16 deployed all the way from Holland, the dozens of European experts, and FBI agents working on this case from day one.

They did not portray the fact that the initial suspects in the case, the boys, were being followed, monitored and electronically surveilled by the police since the beginning and not like they portrayed in the movie that the boys were "free" for 10 days.

Did not show the use of drugs by the Alabama teenagers, and what all they did to get to these, from selling their cameras to Ipods. And the FBI statements where they show that Natalee was seen with Cocaine with her and that one fellow student said that she experimented with drugs.

How much time, does a person or group of person need to have people in place, contacts and a private plane ready to fly, via Miami to Aruba and still make it at sunset, 6 hours after receiving the first call that the daughter was not at the airport. And when receiving this call, you were one hour away from home?

Did not show the first person that Beth came to Aruba looking for: A Dutch marine; a blue eyed blond guy. How could she know this was the person to look for? Joran v/d Sloot was not blond nor was he blue eyed.

The movie did not show the numerous people that saw Natalee after she disappeared.

Nor handled the other side of the story, where friend claimed that Natalee was not happy at home and made several attempt to move to her biological father. Nor the claims made by the family in a local cab, that Natalee was not completely fine after rehab and needed attention, thus the need for a medicare jet on the tarmac for a couple of days. Nor the claims that Natalee might have been molested by family member. Nor the fake document that Beth Twitty brought from a hospital (signed by a nurse) for the Prosecutors in Aruba to prove that Natalee did not have any medical or psychological problem nor have been in rehab. What happened to all this?

And where the millions the mother collected over the years went. None was in the searches, every search done in Aruba was paid for by donations from Arubans and tax payers from Aruba and the Netherlands. Even the special boat sent to Aruba by the father, was not paid by the mother, but by Texas Equu Search that used MILLIONS of dollars of American donation in this adventure. Last time that Dave sent a cadaver team to Aruba for two weeks back in February, was paid not by Beth and her millions but by Dave himself, who did not receive one single dime from the bookdeal and the moviedeal that is making Beth wealthier.

The movie also did not show the illegal thing that the mother and friends did to have people in jail without the necessary prove. Like the false witnesses that the family brought for the police and made them lose time in the investigation, for example the Condom guy, the Jogger, the Monserat guy, the Girl that was "raped" by Joran (who even an American judge was used to verify a statement the Girl never made, the lady that saw three men with shovel in plain day days after the disappearance.

Also did not show what the false evidences planted by the family and friends, like the manipulation of recorded video and took the audio to portray that the boys raped the girl, while in the original video and audio, the boy denied everything and even tried to explained to Mr. Skeeters, hired by Dr. Phil, that everything went very simple that night, nothing happened. There is now a lawsuit against Dr. Phil, Skeeter's Estates and CBS in California going on. The film also did not show, that the FBI and the NFI did the analysis and proof that the tapes were manipulated.

The movie also did not show the real Beth Twitty who on TV, spoke bad about the Aruba and the Netherlands, calling them corrupt for not helping her, forgetting that the case already took thousand of manhours and over 10 millions dollars. She called for a boycott of a nation based on her perception of what happened, not caring about the 100.000 innocent people living in Aruba. The movie also did not show, how hatefull and revengefull her followers were and still are, by making terrorists threats against Aruba (like the now jailed Mammana) and sending death threaths to dozen of Arubans and even Americans supporting the island of Aruba.

The movie did not depict the horror and nightmare the Arubans had to endure during months in the hands of Beth Twitty, Jug Twitty, Nancy Grace and Greta van Susteren who night after night slandered the Aruban people and even went further to slander the Dutch and everything Dutch.

The movie did not make Natalee Holloway look good or even her mother, Beth Reynolds.

Was Natalee Holloway abused by stepdad?

New information on the Natalee Holloway case have been coming forward the last 2 years. From a child that did not want to go home, to rumors (which were there from day 1) that Natalee was abused by his stepfather and her mother did not have the best relation with her either.

This weekend the Openbaar Ministerie in cooperation with a local program will be transmitting a live program which can be seen in the Kingdom, via internet. The common goal is to wake up the memories of people that might know something else that did never came forward.

Since the supposed confession of Joran to the ex-convict Patrick van der Eem, who recently admitted on TV that he did all of that hidden camera project for fame, a lot of people came forward saying that Joran was lying.... but the Prosecutors already knew that.

1. Joran could not have called anyone that night, because all phone records have been obtained in 2005.
2. The so called 'payphone' that Joran said he used, does not make local calls, since the company does not have the permits to work locally, it is only for international calls and you have to have a credit card or a US prepaid calling card.
3. The person that Joran invented that came to pick him up, was at that time not in Aruba, but in the Netherlands.
4. The place that Joran said that they were, was actually half a kilometer further north than the Fisherman's hut. The only pier near to that area is located between the Holiday Inn and the Hadicurari restaurant. If they carried a body to the boat... it would have been impossible not to be seen by anyone from the 3 hotels and restaurant that they had to pass in front. There were also some people at the Moomba Beach and fishermen on that same pier he mentioned, that would have remembered two men carrying a girl.
5. The boat, the famous boat. Any boat leaving that pier would have been detected by the Cuerpo Especial Arubano who monitors the waters of Aruba. According to Dompig, all boats in the area were accounted for that night.
6. The time line also is not correct, for Joran to do all that, be with Natalee, call a friend, wait for the friend, carry Natalee on a boat, go with the boat far away to dump a body, come back and walk home, would have taken more than the 2 hours he was last seen by the Kalpoe brothers and the time the police know he was home, by computer records, when he signed on the internet.

Bottomline: Joran did not confess but yet used information and rumors from the beginning available everywhere to make up that story to a friend he wanted to impress.

Not only that, since Joran's confession a lot have happened:

Including new witnesses coming forward saying that Natalee was alive after she disappeared.

Air Force 2 landed in Aruba

On friday the Air Force 2 landed on the island, prompting a high security condition at the Queen Beatrix International Airport. It is being rumored that Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney was on board and the plane came in just to refuel and continue its flight to undisclosed destination.

Whether is was planned or not, rumors have been flying whole day saying that it might have been here for the recent announcement that an Europan Oil company will buy over the American refinery company in Aruba, the Valero. Another American refinery in the hands of foreigners would only hurt the American oil price being paid at the pomps.

Also has been rumored the recent events in Venezuela and Colombia where, hostages have been released and one of the most prominant one, a congress woman Betancourt is dying in the jungle.

ARUBA in the TOP 10 INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION FOR THE U.S.A.

American Express Travel Poll Reveals New Trends in Holiday Travel This Season

NEW YORK, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers are bending the rules of traditional holiday travel as American Express Travel agents reveal new and notable trends for the upcoming season. Results from an American ExpressTravel poll of 402 of their agents and representatives show that this year the week between Christmas and New Year's -- not Thanksgiving weekend --will be the most popular time for holiday travel for their customers (according to 67% of agents). In fact, according to agents' rankings, that particular week was significantly more popular than the weeks betweenThanksgiving and Christmas (27%), during Thanksgiving (18%), after the NewYear (8%) and before Thanksgiving (4%). In addition to this shift in travel schedules, more than 50% of agents said that their customers are looking beyond their tried and true holiday destinations, seeking to go somewhere new every year, especially internationally.
Not only are travelers looking to indulge in new travel experiences, they are also treating themselves to an extra special holiday season thisyear with 76% of agents reporting that travelers are booking more luxury vacations this season than ever before. Sixty-eight percent of agents are seeing an increase in five-star hotel bookings and 54% are seeing an increase in first-class and business-class travel bookings. Agents revealed that luxury travel this holiday season has increased the most among couples(48%) and families (48%); followed by mature travelers (31%), and singles(10%).

The poll also revealed that 24% of agents are booking more holiday travel overall this year than last, with the majority (43%) saying that holiday vacation budgets are exceeding $2,000 per person. Agents say that beach/resort, cruise, and ski/mountain vacations top the list as favorite getaways. Fifty-eight percent say that families with children are booking the most holiday travel this year, followed by couples (18%), and relatives traveling together (14%). The top reasons for taking a holiday vacation instead of staying home are that kids are off from school (48%), people areable to take time off (43%), a desire to relax and get away from it all(35%), an interest in experiencing a new culture or country (27%), and thedesire to celebrate the season in a new way (26%).

Top 10 International Destinations
St. Maarten
Montego Bay
San Jose Del Cabo
Paris
Cancun
San Juan
Auckland
Aruba
London
Sydney

Data on 2006 holiday travel trends was collected via an online poll of402 American Express Travel agents and representatives across the U.S. Thepoll was fielded during late October and early November. All statistics reflect the percentages of agents polled.

Aruba back on Track!!

Up to August 2006 we have seen a decline in tourism in Aruba, even though the gap has been narrowing.... The last 3 months of 2006 are looking positive, and all to blame to the hundreds of rooms closed for renovations and 2 hotels closed, which one is months behind reopening. But they are opening up, so the numbers of tourists is also slowly but surely going up.

And JetBlue reminds us of that:

Seems discount airline JetBlue's New York Kennedy (JFK) to Aruba (AUA) service is doing just fine. So strong is the demand that the high-frills, low-fare carrier is laying on a permanent second Saturday-only nonstop on December 2. The new flight will complement existing daily nonstop service. At the same time, the carrier is touting a $129 one-way discount airfare on the route between November 30 and February 15, 2007.
If day-in-day-out demand on the route is robust, holiday bookings will be absolutely buoyant. That's why JetBlue will field a second daily JFK to Aruba nonstop from December 21 through January 7, 2007.
You don't have to wait to touch down in Aruba to be entertained, not on JetBlue. The discount airline offers FOX InFlight™ films. There are also 36 channels of free DIRECTV®. Food? Best to bring your own onboard, but there are snacks. As for drink, JetBlue sports one of the finest selections aloft, with Low Fare Sommelier vintages from John Wesson and Best Cellars®.
There are further details about that $129 JFK to Aruba discount airfare: it requires up to a 14-day advance purchase, and must be booked and bought no later than 11:59pm (Mountain Standard Time) on Friday, November 17. Neither taxes nor fees are included.
The heart of the holiday season, December 20 through January 4, is blacked out at this price. Still, the $129 is a real rate break. Consider, the regular JFK to Aruba airfare can range up to $399 one-way.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler

Former Dutch Territory South Africa legalizes gay marriage

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -- South African parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved legislation recognizing gay marriages -- a first for a continent where homosexuality is largely taboo.

By a vote of 230-41, the National Assembly passed the Civil Union Bill, a compromise that resulted from months of heated public discussion.

Both traditionalists and gay activists have criticized the measure, and there have been warnings that it might be unconstitutional.

ARUBA WINS AGAIN IN 2006!

Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine has released its "Best Of" winners for 2006 in the next December Edition.

Aruba out of the 33 categories and a lot of other destinations won in all these categories:

• Friendliest People- Aruba
• Best Beach- Palm Beach, Aruba
• Best Hotel/Resort- Hyatt
• Best Large Hotel- Radisson
• Best Resort Casino- Hyatt
• Best Restaurant- Sunset Grille (at the Radisson)
• Best Snorkeling Destination- Aruba

ARUBA IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE TOP 4 DESTINATION IN THE CARIBBEAN!

More Seats for the Islands.

KLM is thinking about changing his MD-11 flights to the ex-Antilles and Aruba, for a bigger plane the Boeing 777.

Come Dance in Aruba, Bin baila cu mi!

Click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5RRiJbd3l4

The song was composed by three times Grammy winner, the Aruban Hildward Croes.
For the Latin market a more slow, luxurious, sensual ad will be shown.

The song is so catchy that it even is a ringtone on the ARUBA.com website to download.

Goodbye Carnival

Carnival cruises will leave the island of Aruba for good after April 2007. They have been every single friday on the island for the last couple of years.

They were bringing over 2000 tourists to the island (mainly from Puerto Rico) from early morning till 11:00 p.m. Thanks to them, many came back as regular visitors and we are very appreciative of that.

But, since the oil price starting going up, costs to make that sail all the way to the southern tip of the Caribbean region to Aruba, has become a problem for the Carnival Cruises. Yes, it takes over $50.000 extra to include Aruba in its schedule.

They want to come back, though, but like bribing for Aruba to cover the costs. Like the government will do so, many other companies would also ask for this gift. So, Carnival left on a sour note.

But since their departure, Aruba has become the homeport for 3 New Cruise ships, with more potential and buying power compared to the buying power of the Carnival Destiny's passengers.

And the season just started. Last season there was a 25% increase in Cruise tourism, another record, maybe even higher for this season.

He was a Friend of Mine.

He was a friend of mine

He was a friend of mine

Every time I think about him now

Lord I just can't keep from crying

'Cause he was friend a friend of mine

He died on the road

He died on the road

He never had no money

To pay his room or board

He was a friend of mine

I stole away and cried

I stole away and cried

'Cause I never had too much money

And I can't be satisfied

He was a friend of mine

He never done no wrong

He never done no wrong

He was just a poor boy

Long way from home

He was a friend of mine

He was a friend of mine

He was a friend of mine

Every time I hear his name

I just can't keep from crying

'Cause he was a friend of mine

And they ALL watch Holland WIN the match!

Some people in the world will never understand the passion of the World Cup.

Go Holland Go!!

Aruba does it Again

Aruba Resorts Post Top Honors in Caribbean Green-Hotel Awards

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 15, 2006 - Green Globe has announced the winners of its first Caribbean Green Globe Awards, honoring Aruba's Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort as Best Overall in environmental performance. Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa, also in Aruba, won the Most Improved category, demonstrating how a business can significantly improve its performance over a one-year period.

Cathy Parsons, CEO of Green Globe Asia Pacific and GGAP International, commended those operations that had shown significant improvement in their Benchmarked performance over the previous 12 months. "Manchebo Beach resort successfully achieved six indicators at or above best practice after its first year of benchmarking. Other wonderful results were achieved by Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, Playa Linda Beach Resort, and Bucuti Beach Resort," Parsons concluded.

Sir Royston Hopkins, chairman of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, congratulated the winners and said, "The contest for the top position was extremely tight with a number of operations in contention."

Runners up in the Best Overall category were 3 Rivers Ecolodge in Dominica, Playa Linda Beach Resort in Aruba , Manchebo Beach Resort, and Long Bay Hotel in Antigua and Barbuda.

This is the first time that these Green Globe awards have been made in the Caribbean. It is proposed that similar international awards will be announced during the Green Globe and Green Tourism Caribbean conference, to be held in Jamaica from Nov. 1-3, 2006. All successfully benchmarked and certified operations around the world will be eligible for these awards.

The Next Concert in Aruba.

2006 ARUBA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Enjoy sun, fun, and some classic rock music at the 5th Annual Aruba Music Festival. The Festival is held at the Aruba Entertainment Center, which is located 5 minutes by car from downtown Oranjestad, and 15 minutes from the hotel district.
The intimate outdoor venue offers visitors excellent sound quality and unobstructed sight lines of the stage from almost any seat. The venue also has a secondary stage which features entertainment prior to the main stage performance. Add to this the wonderful sights and sounds of Aruba, and you are sure to enjoy this truly unique concert experience.Seating is general admission within the venues three ticketed sections.
Taxi service is available, or you may purchase a private festival bus transfer, which picks you up at your hotel and transfers you to and from the concert venue.

For more information about the Aruba Music Festival, please call 1-800-390-4936.

Friday, October 6 - STYX

Saturday, October 7 - Lionel RichieTickets

Prices are:
• $100 Gold Circle (Limited Availability)
• $60 Preferred
• $40 General Admission
Services Charges May Apply

Aruba is on the Watch.

Alarm bells ring in tourist paradise

The tiny island of Aruba is a popular attraction for sun, sea worshippers
But officials worry about the effect on island's environment, Jen Ross reports

Jun. 10, 2006. 01:00 AM

JEN ROSS
SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Oranjestad, Aruba—This Caribbean island nation's stunning turquoise waters, white sand beaches and romantic sunsets have lured tourists for decades. Its position outside the hurricane belt allows for a year-round influx, and the constant trade winds have made it a windsurfing, sailing and kite-skiing hotspot.

But in recent years, residents have begun questioning just how much tourism this tiny island (covering less than 200 square kilometres) can sustain, given its impact on the coastline. The local population of 100,000 has almost doubled since 1980. Meanwhile, tourism has grown sixfold, from some 200,000 tourists a year in 1985, to more than 1.2 million in 2005.

After years of emphasizing economic development, Aruba is now on a mission to protect its delicate coastal environment, both for — and from — its booming tourism industry.
Across the Caribbean, scientists have raised alarm bells about the increasing damage to coral reefs and the loss of marine life.

Byron Boekhoudt is a marine biologist and policy adviser to Aruba's minister of labour, culture and sport (which has control over parks). He says human contact has harmed corals and intense hotel development has reduced the population of seabirds, fish and sea turtles.

"Tourism keeps growing, while our beaches aren't projected to grow; in fact, some may be shrinking," says Boekhoudt, who blames cars and all-terrain vehicles for eroding sand dunes. Meanwhile, he says, car rental agencies entice tourists to drive on the dunes.

"We cannot keep selling, or prostituting, ourselves in that way," he says. "Here in Aruba, we built the hotels first and focused on bringing a lot of people, and now we are trying to play catch-up in terms of protecting the environment."

After years of neglect, several Caribbean islands are now jumping on the environmental bandwagon. Aruba has made major strides, and is now in the midst of launching an ambitious plan to protect its delicate coastal waters and marine life. Dubbed "Coastal Zone Management," it would designate all of the island's national waters as a marine park.

Boekhoudt says Aruba's waters are now "a free-for-all" for boats, fishing and water sports. But through specific zoning changes, the government will create sanctuaries in areas with more complex ecosystems, making them off-limits to all human activity, with fines as enforcement.

To operate in specific places, water users will have to get permits, which can be revoked if the users don't comply with environmental standards. Permits will also allow the government to control the number of tour boats, and the government also plans to introduce standardized training for catamaran and scuba diving tour operators.

There will also be more regular beachfront cleanups, using schoolchildren and volunteers instead of paid janitors.

It's a way of expanding the prized Reef Care Initiative of the Aruban Tourism Authority (ATA), which includes a yearly public cleanup of the waters and beaches, as well as school visits to raise awareness about the need to protect the island's precious marine environment. The government will also organize slogan and poster-painting contests to help raise awareness in schools.

"As a diver, I used to see beer bottles and plastic cups, and that's where I got the inspiration," says Castro Perez, ecotourism project manager for the ATA.

Perez says each year there is less garbage to collect. He recalls how a Swedish photographer once came to shoot a magazine cover of Perez collecting garbage underwater for a feature story, but the cleanups were so successful, he says the photographer couldn't find any garbage, so he planted fake litter for the shoot.

`We cannot keep selling, or prostituting, ourselves in that way'
Byron Boekhoudt, Aruban biologist

Perez says dive operators have also helped by cleaning up garbage whenever they are on a dive, and by educating tourists that they cannot touch the corals. The Reef Care Project has the Aruba Watersports Association onboard, and it has created 21 specially designated ocean docking sites for ships to moor.

Aruba has also begun protecting corals with artificial reefing, by sinking treated ships, buses and airplanes, which have become tourist attractions that divert traffic away from the delicate coral reefs themselves. They also attract sponges and spawn new marine life.

Coastal Zone Management also includes initiatives on land, such as a $17.8 million project to create a new park and bike paths stretching 22 kilometres from the airport to the high-rise hotel area around Eagle Beach.

"There is movement but very slow movement," says Shanty Gould, a Greenpeace activist and member of Aruba's main non-governmental environmental agency, Stima.

"If we were an underdeveloped country that is just starting to get tourism, then it might be acceptable, but considering how much tourism we have, I think we should be ashamed."
Gould says the government has been too lax in enforcing environmental standards on the island's oil refinery, which she calls an eyesore on one of the most beautiful parts of the island.
Meanwhile, she says the government continues to allow the hotel industry to expand. Five hotels are enlarging this year and two new hotels are being built downtown.

Local conservationists blame hotel growth for reducing nesting habitats for endangered sea turtles.

"When they hatch at night, all sea turtles go toward the brightest spot, which is normally the sea," explains Edith van der Wal of the Turtugaruba Foundation. "But where you have a lot of tourism, you have lots of artificial lights ... so they go the wrong direction. We found many hatchlings dead before they could reach the sea."

Van der Wall is one of 25 volunteers who set up barricades around sea turtle nesting sites on the beaches until the eggs hatch. Hotels call her group when they see females laying eggs. Some also call if they notice the eggs hatching.

"That's marvellous because they shut off the lights," van der Wal says. "But some hotels never can find the right switch."

She says she hopes Coastal Zone Management will give the government more power to halt or control beachfront development.

Still, not all hotels are keen to expand. Ewald Biemans owns the Bucuti Beach Resort Hotel, which targets environmental travellers. With about 100 rooms, it has made a point of staying small.

"We had the option of building 50 more rooms and we decided not to do it," Biemans says. Bucuti's use of solar power, filtered and recycled water, energy conservation technology, and a host of environmental initiatives has made it the eco-star of the island's hotels.

Biemans, who chairs the environmental committee for the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association, says Aruba has done more in a few years than many other Caribbean destinations, but Coastal Zone Management will put Aruba way ahead of the pack.

More Flights to Aruba

Avianca Increases Airlift To Aruba Now Daily Flights To Bogotá

Aruba Airport Authority (AAA) in a joint effort with Avianca, our strongest Latin American Airline partner, is very pleased to announce that as of July 1st, 2006 Avianca will increase their 5 weekly flights from Bogotá to Aruba to daily. This will not only offer better service between Bogotá and Aruba but will also increase connections from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Panama to Aruba via Bogotá. The Aruba Tourism Authority’s Office in Colombia has been doing tremendous PR and Marketing in support of the increase in flights and just completed an intensive road show in Colombia together with Avianca and members of AHATA.

In addition, Avianca will also launch twice weekly service from Medellin via Baranquilla to Aruba on Wednesdays and Sundays as of June 18, 2006. The flights will be operated by SAM, an Avianca company, with Fokker-100 aircrafts. At present Aires operates twice weekly service from Baranquilla to Aruba on Thursday and Sundays, with the addition of Avianca flights there will be service four times a week and expanding the connection opportunities via Baranquilla to coastal regions.

Latin America has shown the greatest growth in Load Factor (aircraft occupancy) from 2005 in comparison to 2004 of 11%. The North American market remained flat at 74%, the charter market grew by 4%, and the European market grew by 7%. The AAA remains focused on enhancing Aruba’s air routes towards the demand and needs of the market.

We are delighted to have increased our frequencies to Colombia with our trusted and loyal airline partner, Avianca due to a mutual vision regarding the meeting of the demand and need for additional airlift towards the destination not only from Colombia but other Latin American regions”, a very satisfied Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director of the Aruba Airport Authority N.V. stated

One Year Later; Beth Beth Beth.

Tactics illustrate difference between Aruban and U.S. law

A year has passed since Natalee Ann Holloway, accompanied by three young men, walked out of a nightclub in Oranjestad, Aruba, and into oblivion.

It was about 1:30 a.m. on May 30, the wee hours of what would have been Holloway's last day on the island, where she and about 100 classmates were celebrating their graduation from Mountain Brook High School in suburban Birmingham, Alabama.

Holloway's passport and her packed bags were found in her hotel room after she didn't show for the flight back home.

That was the last trace anyone had of the 18-year-old, 5-foot-4-inch blonde despite an exhaustive search and investigation that became a media sensation in the United States, Aruba, the Netherlands and elsewhere.

The case riveted attention on a small island with white sand beaches off the coast of Venezula. About the size of Washington, D.C., Aruba knew little crime. Now, says Jossy Mansur, editor of Diario Aruba, the island has lost its innocence.

"People don't give opinions in Aruba," Mansur said. "But I think that everyone here is aware that this case was mishandled from the beginning."

A landfill was searched, a pond drained, sand dunes and beaches combed. Boats and planes equipped with radar and infrared gear searched offshore.

At least 10 men -- including an Aruban judge whose son was the last person seen with Holloway -- were arrested and identified as suspects either in Holloway's disappearance or in a cover-up. All were interrogated and released.

No suspect in custody

A year later, no one is in custody and authorities appear no closer to finding Holloway -- dead or alive -- than they were in the first feverish days of their search.

"It's hard to remember a case where even as something emerged as a possible breakthrough, it was shot down," said Philadelphia criminal defense attorney Theodore Simon, who has represented clients in Aruba.

With each false lead, Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway Twitty, spoke freely about how her hopes have been raised, and then dashed.

"We just get our hopes up, another arrest, and then he's released, and we still have no answers, you know. It's just getting more and more difficult," Twitty told CNN earlier this month when an arrest appeared to breathe new life into the case, then went nowhere.

The unfolding investigation had all the dramatic elements needed to captivate television audiences, said Simon, who has commented widely on the case.

"An American on an idyllic island supposedly celebrating her graduation goes missing under less than clear circumstances," he said.

"It's a mystery that desperately wanted to be solved, with parents who were energetic and active and fully engaged in trying to get to the bottom of the matter at whatever cost."

'Catch and release' justice

As she pushed for answers,Twitty was as much a fixture at Aruban police headquarters as on television crime shows.

She led the criticism of what plays in the United States as a bungled investigation under what has been characterized in the media as a "catch and release" system of justice.

"They have really had just such a botched investigation from the beginning, and whether that was due to incompetence or corruption or cover-up, I mean, we don't know," Twitty said during an appearance on CNN Headline News' Nancy Grace show earlier this month.

Legal experts say differences in Aruba's criminal justice system should be taken into account.

The U.S. system, based on English common law, holds that no one can be arrested unless authorities can show a judge there's probable cause a crime was committed and the suspect did it.

Grand juries investigate and trial juries decide innocence or guilt in an adversarial process.

Aruba's system is based on Dutch law, a descendant of the Napoleonic code.

In Aruba, a "reasonable suspicion" that someone knows about or is involved in a crime is all that's needed for an arrest.

Magistrates investigate and judges determine guilt or innocence. There are no jury trials.

Arrest as an investigative tool

Simon, the Philadelphia lawyer, said Twitty is doing exactly what the parent of a missing person should by keeping the case in the news.

On the other hand, he said, the authorities in Aruba are being judged by a skewed standard.

"Someone could look at the Aruban system and say, 'My God, that's an outrage that someone could be held without probable cause.' We don't believe you can go around arresting people on a whim," Simon said.

"But there are people looking to solve the case that might say that's a good system. Arrest becomes an investigative tool," he said. "Civil libertarians would say this is an outrage. Someone from a law enforcement perspective would say this is a wonderful tool."

The three young men who left the club with Holloway -- Joran van der Sloot, now 18, and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, now 22 and 19, have told varying stories, and were held the longest. All maintain they are innocent of wrongdoing.

They initially led authorities to two security guards, who were questioned, released and never formally charged.

Steve Croes, 27, a disc jockey on a party boat anchored offshore from Holloway's hotel, was arrested after one of the teen suspects pointed to him. After being released for lack of evidence, he admitted he lied to authorities to protect his friend Deepak Kalpoe.

Rights waived

Van der Sloot's father, Paul, was arrested and suspected of helping to cover up what happened to Holloway. Authorities said he told his son that police had no case without a body. He was released after three days of questioning.

While Aruba has no Miranda warning of the right to a lawyer and the right to not incriminate oneself, it does have something similar, called a cautio, Simon said.

And, Aruban law does not require parents and children to testify against one another. U.S. law does not recognize that privilege.

The van der Sloots waived their cautio rights and the parent-child privilege during interrogation, Simon said.

During the summer and into the fall, a drained pond yielded nothing, a bone was found but wasn't human, a lead about strands of hair found on a piece of duct tape went nowhere.

The revolving door of arrests and multiple dead ends contributed to the perception Aruban authorities were "flapping around," said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. attorney in Miami, Florida.

Political pressure increased. Governors of three U.S. states -- Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia -- threw their weight behind a boycott of Aruba's tourist industry to protest the lack of progress in finding Holloway

Mansur, the Diario editor, said tourism has been hurt. As long as it doesn't decline further, he said he believes Aruba's economy will recover.

Twitty and Natalee's father, Dave Holloway, increased the pressure with a civil lawsuit filed in New York against Joran van der Sloot and his father.

The suit asks punitive damages from father and son and accuses the younger van der Sloot of "malicious, wanton and willful disregard of the rights, safety and well-being of the plaintiffs and their daughter." The case is pending.

Aruba pushes back

Aruban authorities began to push back. Gerold Dompig, Aruba's former lead investigator, said Holloway may have overdosed or died of alcohol poisoning, The Associated Press reported.

In April and May, interest was aroused again with the arrests to two other young men. Both were questioned and quickly released.

Dompig told the Birmingham News that his son, under questioning by authorities, might have falsely incriminated suspect Geoffrey van Cromvoirt in April, because of a personal dispute.

''He's a kid; he got confused and frustrated and he said things he shouldn't have said,'' Dompig told the Alabama newspaper. ''It went too far.''

Earlier this month, another apparent lead fizzled when Dutch teenager Guido Wever was arrested on an indictment from Aruba. He was released, and his lawyer and family vehemently maintained his innocence.

Coffey, the former U.S. prosecutor, said the last two arrests fed the perception that officials in Aruba were desperate.

"When there's extreme pressure to 'do something,' rather than having a methodical, well-planned investigation, there's an appearance of flapping around with a 'go find me a suspect, arrest somebody' approach," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/05/30/aruba.mystery/

Spring Break 2006: 10 hot spots

From the Virgin Islands to Fort Lauderdale, great spots to take in the rays

Well, it’s that time of year again: the annual migration to the surf, sand and sunshine of some beachy locale. Last year, I discussed how an adult can survive Spring Break, and like a ring from Tiffany, that advice is timeless. But if you are looking to make that annual migration this year, sit back, relax and see where the hot destinations are for Spring Break 2006.

How do I know that they’re hot? I asked more than 2,000 members of our Tripso forums a simple question — “Where do you want to go for Spring Break?” — and I got these top 10 picks. While some of them are definitely for the young at heart (a euphemism for the Party Hearty Crowd, hereafter abbreviated as “PHC”), others are geared to somewhat less raucous vacationers.

The envelope, please …

Number 6: Aruba
Despite the recent “boycott” (which failed), Aruba is still a hot destination for Spring Break. Its brisk trade winds have a way of changing everything — from the mangled divi-divi trees on the beaches, to the strangely sculpted monoliths in the center of the island, to the sunburned sun worshipers on the beach. Aruba has many high-rise resorts, great restaurants, flashy casinos and white-sand beaches. By day, there is some of the best windsurfing and water-skiing in the Caribbean; by night, there is excellent dining and gambling. Warm, blustery, and relatively dry, Aruba is a unique Caribbean destination.

The Aruba Effect.

Family for sale on eBay
You can sell anything on eBay these days, and now there's a family on the auction block.

Jojo Gator and Jackie Kidney say they're looking for a better life in the tropics. They would like to offer themselves and six other relatives as someone's private staff.

They're looking for sunshine, palm trees and $1.5 million for five years of service. That includes housekeeping, landscaping and mechanic work.

The couple got the idea after vacationing in Aruba. They decided they wanted a slower pace and an experience for their five children.

Black-Soda is coming back, just in time for Carnival.

EquuSearch Founder Heading Back To Aruba To Search For Holloway.

HOUSTON -- The founder of Texas EquuSearch said he and a team of divers from Florida will travel to Aruba after investigators there revealed they might know where to find the body of a missing Alabama teen. Will he deserve the same cooperation his Texas Team got in the PAST after his political involvement, Public Slanter in calling a BOYCOTT on the island of Aruba?

On Friday, EquuSearch founder Tim Miller and a deepwater search team from Florida will travel back to Aruba to search an area three to five miles off the island's coast that is between 800 to 1,000 feet deep.

"Our whole goal is none other than to bring Natalee Holloway home," Miller said. "It's too early to just say it's over with. There are still some things to do." Well, they visited all the Casino's and Bars with donated money, what else is there to do?

Miller told that the last time he was in Aruba, he was threatened with arrest because he was working without a permit. He said he told authorities that he wasn't working for anyone and that he was a volunteer. He forgot to mention that it was the Reporters and Camera Crews that came with Beth Twitty were working without a permit and he was trespassing private properties.

One Crooked Politician opened his eyes.

Barbour opposes Aruba boycott.
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Tuesday, January 10, 2006

The father of missing Alabama teenager Natalie Holloway was taken aback Tuesday when he learned that Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour opposes an Aruba tourism boycott that fellow Southern governors have endorsed.

“I don't know what to say,” said Meridian resident Dave Holloway, whose daughter Natalee Holloway disappeared in May while on a senior trip to the Dutch Caribbean island. “The attorney that is representing us indicates that a boycott would help. So far, it has caused them to take a different view of the case.” The Attorney forgot to tell Dave that a boycott will only hurt the economy of the island and its populations but not the investigation, ex-suspects nor would it pressure police and investigators to plant false evidence, just like what Dr. Phil and Skeeters did.

Barbour, in an interview with The Meridian Star's Editorial Board on Tuesday, said he does not believe a tourist boycott of the island is the right means to an end.

“When it comes to boycotting, I am more accustomed to Mississippi being on the receiving end of people boycotting us because they don't like this or that,” he said. “I am not favorably disposed toward that device.”

Some civil rights organizations called for tourist boycotts of Mississippi when voters refused to change the Confederate-themed state flag in a 2001 referendum.

So far, the governors of Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia have urged their citizens not to travel to Aruba until authorities cooperate more fully with the Holloway family.

Three men were questioned in Natalee Holloway's disappearance, but they were later released without being charged.

Beth Holloway Twitty, Natalee's mother and a Birmingham, Ala., resident, is originally from Arkansas. Dave Holloway graduated from high school in Jonesboro, Ark.

Holloway said he called Barbour late last year to ask for his support of the boycott, but he did not get a response.

Barbour said Tuesday his office is doing what it can to support the Holloway family. And the Netherland all what we can to help them after the Katrina Disaster, the unmantained levees and helping in their War in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Through various ways we tried to urge the government of Aruba to not only be as serious and determined about this as possible but to make it plain that they are,” Barbour said. But the media, FOXNEWS, Nancy Waste and Greta van Susselen do not want to show the other side of the story and do not cooperate with the Arubans.

Holloway, a State Farm insurance agent, said he firmly believes a boycott will force the government of Aruba to do more to solve the case. He said he was discouraged from searching for his daughter since the first day he arrived on the island. When he was told that the a massive search would involve a lot of money, from the government and privately.

“The tourism bureau did not want me to do a search because it would bring too much media attention to the island and hurt tourism,” he said. “About 70 percent of their tourists are from the U.S.” Unfortunately the Tourism Board was NOT the one that conducted the searches or investigation.

Holloway said he respects the governor's position.

“But I know (a boycott) would help. It would make them dig deeper and find more answers,” he said. Except he forgot to report that still the Mountain Brook kids and some family members are still not cooperating in the case.

From The Birmingham News

Letters, faxes, and e-mail
Wednesday, January 11, 2006

I would like to remind the recent letter writer who called for a nationwide boycott of Aruba that the city of Birmingham had 105 murders last year, and 43 are unsolved.

This is a city with all of the world's technical advances in solving crimes available to it. In addition, there are a number of people missing - some for more than six months - with no clues given to their loved ones.

So my question is: Who does the letter writer really want to boycott?

Everyone is saddened by the Natalee Holloway case. But considering all the circumstances, it seems overboard to boycott an entire country.

Aruba is a beautiful place filled with beautiful and kind people.

They did nothing to Holloway. My understanding is she got into a car with three guys she hardly knew.

If you want to take your life in your own hands, go to Birmingham.

Gerald Dill

What Aruba has shown the World.

In a Special Session of the Parliament to commemorate the first Official session of the Land of Aruba 20 years ago, Mr. Schuurman, leader for the Dutch Parliament and in name of the 12 other Dutch Parliament members present for this occasion had a few words for its colleagues.

He told the Parliaments, Ministers, Governor and guests present on how Aruba has surprised the Dutch government with its success the last 20 years. They thought that the island would have never made it on its own.

He talked about the year 1871 when Mr. Jesserun asked the Dutch government for a more decentralized Antilles so that Aruba could develop itself. In 1947, Mr. Henny Eman was a fighter for an independent development of Aruba, but never succeeded and was never heard directly. Those days even schoolbooks had to have permission to be bought by the Dutch representative, called Gezaghebber.

Then came the era of Betico Croes, who challenged the Dutch Kingdom, search for International Allies, and woke up the people of Aruba. He became the charismatic and main force for the fight for STATUS APARTE of Aruba.

Betico Croes inspired the people of Aruba and made them all wanted to have his last name.

Because of the constitution and because it was done with New Guinea and Suriname in 1954, The Netherlands gave Aruba its Status Aparte in 1986 with the only condition it will have to become Independent 10 years later in 1996. They never thought Betico would ever accept that and realized that the Arubans would rather follow orders and guidelines from the Kingdom than getting it from Curacao.

He said that he now thinks that Arubans accepted that condition in order to proof themselves, the world and specially the Dutch that they could make it and become a successful nation and come back to deliberate about the condition, which they did. They scrapped the date for independence and its only after a Referendum of the People of Aruba, they will ask for independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

He realized that the early days of Status Aparte was very difficult, Aruba had a difficult economic position after the closure of the Oil Refinery in which 40% of Arubans lost their jobs.

Aruba overcame all those obstacles and grew and became powerful even when sailing against the winds.

TOP Destinations for 2006.

Caribbean Island Hotspots

The Orbitz Insider Index reviews an aggregate mix of future bookings (flight and hotel) on Orbitz.com, indicating significant destination and departure trend information within the data. The most popular Caribbean island destinations according to The Orbitz Insider Index are:

Top 10 Caribbean Island Destinations

1 Puerto Rico
2 Bahamas
3 St. Thomas
4 Dominican Republic
5 Jamaica
6 Aruba
7 St. Maarten
8 British Virgin Islands
9 St. Croix
10 Barbados



"Best Gaming Island" -- Aruba

If the ringing of slot machines and the allure of a big jackpot get your blood pumping fast, Aruba is the island destination for you! Aruba has a wide variety of casinos where visitors can play roulette, poker, craps, blackjack or Caribbean stud poker. Invented in Aruba in 1988, Caribbean stud poker, now played in many U.S. casinos, is a game all visitors to this island should be sure to try. If planning to visit Aruba with teenagers, take note, the legal gaming age on this island is eighteen.

Carnival Started

Last Saturday night was suppose to be just a small traditional Parade of Torches to announce that the Carnival Season just begun. The official Carnival Season starts on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month and ends the day before Ash wednesday. And yes, Carnivale is a religious event.

The first Parade called the 'Fakkel Optocht' was suppose to be around 200-350 participants with their torches and dancing in the streets from one starting point to the end some 3-5 miles away.

However, due to a heavy and stressfull year we just had, I guess many just wanted to be relief of that stress and made the parade grew from a few hundred participants to over 4.000, making this the biggest ever in the 52 years of official carnival season.

It was a great start to e fabulous New Year. Well deserved.

Aruba Still doing nothing?

A special unit of Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice has been asked to assist with search and recovery efforts in the case of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway. The Underwater Crime Scene Investigation (UCSI) program, based at FSU's Panama City campus, received the request for assistance from the Prime Minister Mr. Nelson Oduber of Aruba and the Texas EquuSearch Team, a non-profit organization that has been involved in the search.

The team of four experts traveling to Aruba includes Dale Nute, a forensic scientist with over 40 years of experience; Mike Zinzser, diving safety officer, director of the Advanced Science Diving Program and U.S. Navy diver (retired); Mark Feulner, underwater archaeologist and technology specialist; and Dan Walsh, Coast Guard diver (retired) and dive engineer. The team will be utilizing their side-scan sonar and a remote operated vehicle.

The Florida State University Panama City UCSI program is the only academic-based program of its kind in the United States. The team has been involved in numerous recovery efforts. In 2004, team members assisted Escambia County officials with the identification of potential vehicles and victims in Escambia Bay as the result of Hurricane Ivan and the I-10 bridge collapse. They have also assisted other law enforcement agencies with recovery of evidence and victims. In 2005, the team was involved with several murder investigations.

The UCSI program provides training to federal, state and local law enforcement divers throughout the United States. The program has received national attention from CNN, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Life Network and Popular Science magazine.

Premiere of ARUBA

Oscar Nominated Hubert Davis to have World Premiere of his Latest Film ARUBA at Sundance

ARUBA, the latest film short film by Oscar® nominated director Hubert Davis, has been selected by the Sundance Film Festival - where it will have its 2006 world premiere.

ARUBA, Davis’ first voyage into dramatic storytelling, is the story of an 11-year-old boy who searches for a way out of his home life, where he witnesses domestic violence and drug abuse, and school life, where he is the target of bullying. His only escape is through his imagination. His dreams of escape are visualized on a postcard of a far away place. It is a story about the things we do to survive. It is story about true salvation.

“This is awesome. I learned a valuable lesson with HARDWOOD – write what you know and what is important to you, and your story will emerge. That’s all I wanted to do with ARUBA, tell a good story”, says an overjoyed Davis. “I am thrilled that Sundance is going to be the premiere for this film. Aside from the great support I have received in Canada, the U.S. has also been very good to me…”

Davis, who was nominated for an Academy Award® last year for his directorial debut, HARDWOOD, a co-production between Hardwood Pictures and the NFB, in association with the OMDC AL Waxman Calling Card program and TV Ontario, is a veteran editor and is currently working as a freelance director for Untitled Films.

ARUBA, one of 73 short films selected out of approximately 4,300 short films submitted from all over the world in the international short film category, will have three screenings at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 19 to January 29.

ARUBA, written and directed by Hubert Davis, produced by David Miller, Sam McLaren and Hubert Davis, is a Shine Film production in association with Brown Entertainment, Sienna Films, Bravo!FACT (a division of CHUM Limited), the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the National Film Board FAP.

Crooked Politicians with the Wrong Priorities in Life.

Boycott of Aruba a lost cause.
By BOB BARR
Published on: 01/04/06

In November, shortly before refrains of "Jingle Bells," "Christmas in Dixie" and "Auld Lang Syne" began wafting over Alabama's airwaves, that state's governor, Bob Riley, announced a boycott of Aruba. Well, not a real boycott — after all, and thankfully, the governor of a single state cannot set the foreign policy of our country. Only the president can direct that U.S. citizens, whether they hail from Alabama or Maine, are not permitted to travel to a particular event or country.

Boycotts are, more than anything else, generally expressions of frustration by U.S. presidents. They are more admissions that our ability to effect real or rapid changes in a particular area or country is far less than what we'd planned. Rarely, if ever, do they accomplish their publicly stated goal. Who can forget the spectacularly pointless boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics ordered by then-President Jimmy Carter to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan? The boycott of Iraq under Saddam Hussein in the years leading up to the 2003 invasion was another notable failure.

Thus it appears to be with Gov. Riley's call for a boycott of Aruba, a tiny island known as a tourist mecca for hundreds of thousands of Americans seeking a relatively inexpensive Caribbean vacation each year. Tragically, one of those American tourists — 18-year-old Natalee Holloway of Alabama — disappeared May 30, 2005, while vacationing on the island. Foul play appears certainly to have been the cause of her disappearance, and the family remains understandably frustrated at the slow pace of the investigation.

However, going out of your way to insult the authorities at every opportunity and pressuring the governor of your state to call for a tourist boycott not only will fail to produce the desired results, but more likely than not will impede those efforts.

Perhaps even less comprehensible than Riley's call for the good people of Alabama to refrain from visiting Aruba, however, is the fact that he talked two other governors — our own Gov. Sonny Perdue and Arkansas' Mike Huckabee — into joining the rather pointless exercise. Other than simply trying to lend a supportive hand to a friend facing a tough re-election battle (Riley is being opposed in the GOP primary by former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore), expending political capital on such a joust at a windmill makes no sense at all.

It happens to be a fact of life in this imperfect world that U.S. citizens are occasionally mistreated in countries around the world — and sometimes they even disappear. For example, another young, pretty American woman, Claudia Ann Kirschhoch of New York, disappeared from a resort in Jamaica in May 2000 under circumstances similar in many ways to those surrounding Holloway's disappearance. The investigation by the Jamaican authorities seems to have been thoroughly bungled in such a way as to make the Aruban investigators proud, and the case remains unresolved to this day. Had New York's governor, George Pataki, called for a tourist boycott of Jamaica, perhaps the case would have been immediately solved, but I doubt it.

Mexico regularly witnesses the abduction of American citizens visiting that country, which is the source of so many illegal aliens in the United States. The situation had become so bad that in early 2005 the U.S. State Department issued a warning to those contemplating travel to Mexico, and American law enforcement officials have been openly critical of the apparent disinterest on the part of their Mexican counterparts to address the problem. Of course, we are all familiar with the kidnappings and murders of Americans and other visitors to Iraq. But few sane people would even contemplate a tourist visit to Baghdad these days.

The lessons in all this? The obvious — be careful, prudent and responsible when you travel abroad, and bear in mind that the world continues to be a dangerous place in which few countries possess the investigative acumen and legal system to which we've become accustomed in this country.

Beyond that, one hopes that those governors calling for a tourist boycott of a tiny Caribbean island will, in 2006, turn their attention inward, to solve problems over which they have at least some chance of succeeding — such as education, crime and high taxes.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0106/04edbarr.html

Un Aña Nobo Yen de Felicidad y Exito!

CONGRATULATIONS BABY ARUBA!

Yes, only 20 Years have passed since you became an Autonomous Land in the Kingdom Of the Netherlands. It's only 20 years that you had to prove yourself you could handle your own business and system. Improve the quality of life of Arubans so that 20 years later we are the most prosperous island in the Caribbean, with the highest income per capita and increasing economy and tourism.

Arubans fought for their economic self-determination.

In 20 years, we had to introduce our own money, called the Aruban Florin which is fixed to dollar at the rate of 1,78. Our own Police force, Communication Systems, courts and more. We bacame a resort island. Corporation were brought to island to invest. In 1985 the government envisioned the Aruba based on Tourism, the Sasaki Plan was introduced and Arubans that stayed on the island told that we are changing focus and plans after the closure of the LAGO Oil Refinery.

It has been 20 years that we stopped the abuse we had encountered for decades from the Antillean government that did not see the importance and potential of this island. All major businesses and projects were allocated in Curacao, leaving the rest of the Antilles and Aruba in the dark.

I still remember when Aruba got its Status Aparte at the Round Table Conference and the island was quarantined from the outside world and all commercial flights between Antilles and Aruba stopped by Curacao.

Has been 20 years of Status Aparte and 30 Years of our own National Anthem and National Flag thanks to Gilberto Francois Betico Croes.

Aruba, Getting Bigger.

Top five destinations for 2006
Tripso.com reader's picks for the places to go now

It's the end of December, and travel journalists everywhere are penning their New Year's predictions. Tripso is no exception. We've got five great destinations for 2006, and we didn't need a crystal ball to find them. We asked the true expert -- our readers. Did your favorite "hot spot" make the list? We asked more than 1,300 loyal readers of the Tripso forums to help us forecast the "hip" and "in" places for 2006. Here are the results.

# 3 --> Southern Caribbean. One of the most interesting cruise itineraries is the “Southern Route,” which gives travelers a taste of the real Caribbean with visits to islands like Aruba, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Kitts, among others. While popular with the cruise lines, these islands also make for a wonderful land-based vacation. Aruba has the cooling trade winds and could use a little help with its tourism. (Note to our readers: Don’t boycott Aruba. It is really a gem.) Barbados is home to some of the friendliest people you will find anywhere, and their famous flying fish are nothing short of mesmerizing.

Year 2005. One for the History.

Year 2005 might not have been the best year, but certainly will be remembered as the one with most challenges and life changing events. And in all major events we felt it directly here on the island and not considering that Aruba too has become one of the year's top News. But in any negative publicity given by unprofessional reporters and talkshow hosts and others who had turned their love and hope into hatred and revenge, it's the people of Aruba that showed the world, that no matter they're a small island, that just emerged 20 years ago and still young and naive in certain aspects, still made a stand for itself against those who with the help of the media tried to destroyed its people. It was a year of Challenges.

A year in which we saw a modern Saint going back to his Father and a new Pope emerged. Pope John Paul II The Great made history and glued all believers and non believers on the TV and made them stay with him during his last weeks of life. We all did.

It was a year of Challenges that opened with the aftermath of the biggest Natural Disaster in the world, the Tsunami's. Aruba helped with hundred of thousands of dollars in donations. The island united to help those in the Asian region. Aruba has over 50 different nationalities living in harmony and any event that hurts any other region in the world is felt here.

We saw a year of bloodshed in Iraq, but with some hope after elections after elections the Iraqi people are becoming more open to this new change. Dutch Troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan and renewed efforts are underway to keep this work. There are also a few Arubans in the US military now stationed in Iraq.

Then, the bombings in London, shook the Western Europe. It showed how terrorism could be hidden in your own backyard and is not only based in the Middle Eastern Countries. Holland went on Alert and has made several arrests, related and not related to this bombing but definitely opened its eyes on the Terrorist's presence in their country.

It was a year of the media. The Jackson Hearing and the Natalee Holloway Case has become the worst journalism, the world has ever known. The objectivity became subjective and reporters became judges. Personal opinions became facts.

Aruba wept for the disappearance of its landmark but got hope by the new ones that are emerging. The Natural Bridge.

Natural disasters in the USA by Katrina, Wilma and others made its effect on the island, who depends on major part tourism from the States, saw a small decrease after these events and will definitely show on the yearly figures. Oil prices and the fact that Aruba had this year around 500 rooms less than normal, made the tourists traffic at the Airport lower than ever. Katrina showed us that no matter your size, it's Mother Nature and God that determine the faith of the people.

Aruba was hurt by the case of Natalee Holloway, by international media and also by some locals, who instead of telling the truth about Aruba, used this once in their lifetime oportunity to try to gain personal objectives.

This was the Year of Challenges, Hope and renewed Faith.

Bullying Aruba.

To its shame, Georgia helps bully Aruba.

Published on: 12/19/05

The weather in Aruba this time of year is supposed to be marvelous — sunny, with highs in the mid-80s, just perfect for walking the island's milk-white beaches or dipping into its crystal clear tropical seas.

And the weather in Atlanta this time of year? Ehhh, not so good. Better than Detroit, yes, but not nearly so fine as Aruba.

Alas, any dreams I might have harbored about a wintertime vacation in Aruba were dashed last week when Gov. Sonny Perdue called upon all Georgia citizens to launch a boycott against that lovely Caribbean Island.

According to a statement released by Perdue's office, "this boycott is necessary because Aruban authorities have failed to conduct a serious investigation (Beth Twitty's word and never presented proof of this) of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway," the 18-year-old Alabama girl who vanished in Aruba last May under mysterious circumstances.

"I encourage my fellow Georgians to stand with the Holloway family and the people of Alabama who have been touched by this deeply saddening case," Perdue said, echoing a boycott call initiated by Alabama Gov. Bob Riley.

Now, the disappearance of Natalee, who was celebrating her graduation from a suburban Birmingham high school, is a true tragedy. As the father of two teenage daughters, I cannot imagine the emotional impact it has had on her parents.

But as Perdue's boycott announcement demonstrates, Natalee's disappearance six months ago after a night of hard drinking at an Aruban bar has been blown all out of proportion, inflated from a personal tragedy into a full-blown international incident by ratings-hungry cable news outlets. Media figures such as Dr. Phil, Greta van Susteren, Bill O'Reilly and others have latched onto the case like leeches to a warm body, and Natalee's parents have used the attention to launch what amounts to a vendetta against the island they blame for their daughter's disappearance.

Not surprisingly, the case has also drawn politicians eager to bask in the reflected media glow.

Riley, for example, argues that the failure of Aruban authorities to solve Natalee's disappearance justifies a nationwide boycott of the island, which is almost entirely dependent on tourism. Given what's at stake for the island, which has very little crime, it's hard to believe Riley's claim that local officials haven't paid enough attention to the case. A delegation from Aruba even traveled to Washington last week to meet with an Alabama congressman about the investigation.
In a sense, though, Riley's call for a boycott is a gutsy move, given that there are still 34 unsolved cases of missing children in his own state of Alabama, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Clearly, using Riley's logic, a boycott of Alabama is very much in order. Friends and I had been talking about going back to the Talladega 500 this year — we spent a great weekend parked in the infield for the 2003 race — but maybe we'll have to reconsider unless Riley can tell us what happened to Heaven La Shae Ross, a cute little 11-year-old from Northport, Ala., who disappeared two years ago on her way to her bus stop.

Here in Georgia, according to center statistics, 68 children have gone missing over the years and are still unaccounted for. So much for that golf trip we were planning down to Jekyll Island.

Aruba residents and authorities sound sick and tired of being made the scapegoats in this tragedy, and I can't say I blame them. Local authorities are even suggesting that the high-pressure tactics of Natalee's parents bear some of the blame for the investigation's failure.

Beth Twitty, Natalee's mother, denies that possibility, but I'm not sure I buy her denial.
"I'm ... on a secret mission," she tells a reporter for Vanity Fair magazine in its December issue. "I'm putting together another strike against Aruba . . . Those people down there, they'll never know what hit them. They should never have messed with me."

The most sane perspective on the case comes from John Merryweather, a former government official in Aruba. "Why blame the whole island, a whole country, for something that is out of our control?" he told Vanity Fair. "She attacks our justice system? What about yours? JonBenet. Was that ever solved? Michael Jackson—he gets off. O.J. That's American justice, and the woman is criticizing us?"

I don't know how to answer that. Using Riley's logic, maybe it's time to boycott our whole darn country.

• Jay Bookman is the deputy editorial page editor. His column appears Mondays and thursdays. http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/bookman/2005/121905.html