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

Closing of the 25 Year Celebration.

This weekend, our Queen Her Majesty Queen Beatrix closed off a year long celebration of her 25 year as Head of the Monarchy.

Her Majesty was given an elegant Dinner by the government of Holland, Antilles and Aruba.

Sitting next to the Queen was Prime Minister Balkende of the Netherland and next to him, the Governor of Aruba, Excellence mr. Fredis Refunjol.

The Prime Minister of Aruba, mr. Nelson Oduber and the Prime Minister of the Antilles was also seated on the same table with the Queen.

The Princes and their families along with other 130 other dignitaries, ex-ministers and current ministers attended the Closing event.

Another misinformed politician looking for popularity.

Governor Sonny Perdue encouraged Georgians on Thursday to boycott travel to Aruba to protest the way officials there have handled the disappearance of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway.

Perdue joins Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Alabama Governor Bob Riley in calling for a boycott of the Dutch Caribbean island.

"This boycott is necessary because Aruban authorities have failed to conduct a serious investigation" of the teen's disappearance, Perdue said. "We have no quarrel with good citizens of Aruba (but would like to punish them anyway), but the actions of their leaders cannot be taken lightly."

Riley sent letters to his fellow governors across the country this month asking for their support of the boycott.

In the letters, Riley blames the Aruban government for what he called "missteps, miscommunication and inconsistencies" plaguing the investigation into the 18-year-old's disappearance.

Holloway's family initially praised Aruban authorities for their work on the case, but they recently turned critical, alleging incompetence and conflicts of interest.

The boycott has failed to get support from the U.S. State Department.

Opinion: We should not forget that thanks to Governor Perdue, Atlanta Georgia is considered the 7th most dangerous city in the Unites States of America. (http://reality-shock.blogspot.com/2005/11/list-is-out-and-again-fox-edited-text.html) Atlanta is filled with illegal immigrants and hundreds of missing persons. Don't forget about the daily flights of Atlanta based Delta, should they stop them too? What some politicians would do to gain some popularity for next year General Election? That's politics.

Greta and the talk-show's Fight for Ratings.

Some Facts on What is Happening in the Natalee Holloway Case

Don’t be surprised that some talk show hosts, notably Greta, have totally misinterpreted all the current events surrounding the case. Greta claimed it “looks like a panic” to Beth Twitty. To Beth’s credit she was demur, awaiting the developments to unfold.

In an effort to get the facts out, facts that were available to Greta but overlooked, here is our summary of developments:

1. Assistant Chief Dompig: He’s upset that his team and his efforts are not fully appreciated by the Attorney General. He is dismayed that his efforts have been condemned by Beth Twitty virtually every day. But he has worked hard to move the investigation forward. His team has decided to slow the investigation down, like a “blue flu” by cops in the States. It is expected he will remain the team leader and the “flu” will pass quickly.

2. Karin Janssen: It is rumored but not confirmed that Theresa Croes will replace Karin shortly. Karin spent all her time and effort to nail the Kalpoes and Joran. She diligently presented her case. She did the best she could with the evidence she had. Now the Attorney General may want new eyes on the case. There is no mystery here.

3. Washington Trip: There will be a small delegation headed by Adolpho Richardson to meet Alabama Congressman Spencer Bacchus. This was part of an earlier promise to the Congressman to give him a detailed account of the case. Why? When Governor Riley slapped the boycott on his residents, cooler heads like Bacchus doubted that the evidence supported the action. So, Richardson compiled the case and will fill him in. It is a background session, not for the media. But, Greta couldn’t figure out why it was happening, all she had to do was read the AP story. Even Beth Twitty seemed clueless, her formidable PR machine failed to show her the story, or she forgot the content
.
All of this is about movement. A concerted effort to do whatever is required to determine if there is enough evidence surrounding any scenario to sustain a case before a judge.

The judiciary is not broken. There is an orderly process underway, with a few bumps along the way. No panic anywhere, except on some talk shows where all this activity suggests they may actually have to check their facts.

Source: http://www.arubatruth.com/?p=77

One of the many Letters sent to Bob Riley. This one kinda weird though.

November 12, 2005
Governor Bob Riley
Montgomery, Alabama

Dear Governor Riley,

Besides the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, van Buren and the Roosevelts, we wish to remind you that a large portion of Americans are of Dutch ancestry. Many still speak a few words of Dutch.

As we have been told, and verified by the media, Beth Twitty’s version of the disappearance of her daughter Natalee in Aruba is not quite correct. Mrs. Twitty is stretching the truth. There’s no evidence of any wrong doings. Natalee herself has told a different story. As she couldn’t not get along with her mother, she was looking for a situation not to return home to Alabama. Natalee has run away from home at different times.

Unhappiness and divorce of her parents played an important part in Natalees life. It is for that reason why authorities in Aruba had planned to interview Natalee’s friends and classmates in Birmingham, but they were refused cooperation. Here’s where the real cover-up is.

A civil matter should not become a political issue, especially not between two friendly countries. There are Dutch islands in the Caribbean and of course in Europe. The United States does not want those foreign possessions to switch their political and military alliance and become a threat to the U.S. National Security. The Dutch are loyal members of the NATO. A termination of their membership is not in the best interest of our country.

In addition, the Dutch are a nuclear power. Working for Dutch-Urneco in Amsterdam since 1972, Abdul Qadeer Kahn stole nuclear designs from the Netherlands. Returned to Pakistan built the bomb and traded nuclear secrets to rogue countries. The international adversity this nation is facing today is the result of this little known incident. Consequently let’s not add more oil to the fire.

Sincerely,

WILLIAM F. VanGelder
Registered Republican
Republican Presidential Task Force

How will the Anti-Arubans perceive this?

The well-known and beautiful Aruban mr. Arlene Ellis-Schipper who unlike some "Arubans" who nightly appears on National T.V. defends her island and the Dutch system and does not use this rare and unique opportunity to bash other due to personal or political problems. She defends her island with her heart since the beginning. Arubans all over the world are proud of her. I certainly am.

She and deputy Dolfi Richardson will go to the States and will reunite with the Aruban Minister for the USA, mr. Henry Baarh in Washington. They will meet with some American officials to inform them about certain aspects of the case and educate some on certain approved talkshows regarding the island, the facts and the truth about the Dutch system.

The police Union, think this is not a good idea. They want to sent someone who is or was in the investigating team. Richardson was never in the investigating team and is now occupying the position left open by the retirement of Jan van der Straten. However, if you want to clarify or inform American Officials regarding the case and Dutch system, I see no problem to send Richardson since giving too much information, sensitive or secrets regarding the case, this will definitely end up in the media, they are politicians afterall. The less the person knows about the invastigation itself the best. We have had a lot of bad experiences with Beth and Jug Twitty who, whenever they got information from the police, released this immediately in the media just to, as they say, keep the story alive. And in the process obstructing the investigation. The position now of the Police Union against this and their position of putting the Natalee Investigation on hold since Friday, because the new District Attorney according to them is not on the island to help in the case but the investigate the investigators themselves. Shouldn't they be happy and this way proof that nothing wrong was done? Nope, once again political views prevails. How will the people following the case receive this information. I see a party going on at Greta and Nancy.

Even Dompig who released some definite sensitive information which was published in the Vanity Fair magazine, has been asked to prevent disclosure of anything else to the media for the time-being.

The Netherlands Antilles

Jack Warner has solved for me a lifelong problem, the traditional ignorance of persons abroad of who is Trinidad and Tobago. I can now say "We are in the World Cup, you know, the smallest country ever to qualify."

Last week, I was in two of the Dutch Caribbean islands, on company director duties. I successfully tested the World Cup reference. An Italian in St Maarten, having overcome his initial uncertainty about Trinidad and Tobago, told me: "Yes I saw that game. You will be my favourite foreign team."

This is but a small indication of how robustly we must push to have the rest of the world adopt us as their "favourite foreign team". It will help dilute, but not eliminate the negative image of Trinidad and Tobago abroad. Still in St Maarten, I was talking to a North American who knew all about the death of Dr Koury. He expressed his concern to me "about what you folks are going through in Trinidad".

I love the Dutch islands. The Antilleans and the Arubans are sophisticated and multilingual. Their islands are clean and crime is not an issue, whatever the North Americans are saying about Natalee Hollaway. For five days I never had to focus on my personal safety either in St Maarten or Curacao. This relief was the same when I was in Aruba a few months ago.

Perhaps, before I go further, I should list the larger islands and describe their constitutional arrangements, which keep their politics dynamic. The ABC islands are Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Of the others, St Maarten is currently the most prosperous. It has a very high tourism profile. Originally the islands were all part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland) but in 1986 Aruba, after decades of dispute, broke away and made its own arrangements directly with the Kingdom.

The islands other than Aruba have island councillors directly elected to take care of island affairs in their own island legislatures. The Executive of each island comprises of Commissioners, who are selected or agreed upon by the political parties represented in the island councils. There is a separate Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles, which is also directly elected. The central Government has Ministers. If you are not a Minister it is possible to be elected to both an island council and the central legislature. I met one such person to whom I will refer later.
The breakaway of Aruba was not unique.

Then, as now, the islands are frequently in dispute about the allocation of resources between them, particularly the considerable benefits received from the Kingdom. In fact, it has now been agreed that the islands will not necessarily remain linked in a Central Government, but like Aruba, will be able to go their own way and deal directly with Holland. It is likely in the not too distant future St Maarten will have "status apart" just as Aruba does. By contrast, the very small island of Saba (population 1,300) may wish to become a colony of the Dutch again.

There are many political parties and Governments are usually formed by fragile coalitions. By contrast, Aruba has for the first time one party in power, although only by a majority of one. In separate visits this year to Aruba and Curacao, I had the privilege of meeting the Prime Ministers of Aruba and of the Netherlands Antilles, respectively. There is nothing pompous about them and no entourages and trappings were visible.

Similarly, a former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles, a native of Bonaire, now a Board colleague, as well as the current Prime Minister of the Central Government both went into politics agreeing to serve for limited terms. They stuck to their word. Neither of them clung to office like laglee. Depending on the outcome of elections in January, the new Prime Minister of the Central Government may be a woman of Lebanese origin.

Success for women in politics of the Dutch islands is routine now. In St Maarten I met Senator Maria Buncamper-Molanus. She is the person that is both an island council member for St Maarten and also a Member of Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles. This young, effervescent parliamentarian was very patient with me and explained the intricacies of forming coalition Governments and the relationship between the islands and the Kingdom.

I specifically asked her why the islands were able to run their own lives independently but yet obtain so many benefits and support from Holland, when, by contrast, in the English-speaking Caribbean, our interests and those of the British are estranged to the extent that the fragile economies of the agricultural islands were deliberately destroyed to accommodate competing North American and European banana interests. She explained that in treating with the Dutch, the Antilleans never foolishly put pride over logic.

Aruba Supports Help Natalee is getting from Alabama

ORANJESTAD, Aruba, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ --

The people of Aruba and their government warmly and wholeheartedly support the candlelight vigil being held this evening in the United States for Natalee Holloway.

Almost from the moment Ms. Holloway disappeared, the nation of Aruba has been focused on finding her.

The people of Aruba join those at the vigil in spirit this evening with Ms. Natalee Holloway in our hearts, in our thoughts, and in our prayers.

Alabama's first lady condemns Aruba

Alabama First Lady Patsy Riley promised the family of missing teenager Natalee Holloway that the state will always support the search for her, and accused the Aruban government of turning its back on the family*. (see bottom)

"To know that another country turned its back," Riley said, her voice breaking with emotion during a candlelit prayer meeting Thursday night for missing children. "The people of Alabama will never turn their back."

Holloway was last seen leaving a bar with three young men from Aruba during a graduation trip to the island May 30. Holloway's mother, Beth Twitty, and her stepfather, Jug Twitty, attended the prayer meeting at the Gov.'s Mansion along with two dozen friends from the 18-year-old's hometown of Mountain Brook, a suburb of Birmingham.

At least four other families of missing children also attended the meeting."It touches me that they have so much strength to stand up for our family," Jug Twitty said, referring to Gov. Bob Riley and his wife.

Two glass bowls were set out for what Riley called a "love offering" to help the Holloways in their search. She said the money would not be counted at the meeting and the family could "do with that what they choose."

Some 40 Alabama children are missing, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Tara Frazier, whose 15-year-old niece Sharnecia went missing a year ago, said that while the prayer meeting was largely focused on Holloway, she still felt consoled. "It was a comfort," she said after the meeting. "Not so much sad, but comforting."

Patsy Riley, speaking from the steps of the mansion, asked the victims' families to stand together and draw from one another's strength. They held hands in prayer, later lighting white candles in memory of their missing children.

"This is about all missing children," the first lady told them. "The difference with Natalee is that a different country is involved. ...Therefore, there's a different crisis." Holloway's family initially praised Aruban authorities for their work on the case, but they turned critical, alleging incompetence and conflicts of interest, and joined the governor in calling for a nationwide boycott of travel to Aruba.

Riley has sent letters to the 49 other American governors, urging them to join him in the boycott. So far, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has been the only governor to join.

Meanwhile, Assistant Aruban Police Chief Gerold G. Dompig has said in interviews that Beth Twitty has hurt the investigation by releasing sensitive information during her frequent appearances on U.S. television shows. And he said Holloway's classmates need to be questioned more because of "disturbing" statements they've made on TV and the Internet.

The first lady said she decided to hold the prayer meeting this year because the holidays can be the toughest time for families who have lost a child. Patsy Riley told the families that blowing out their candles does not mean the end of this prayer meeting.

"We will never stop searching for your loved ones."

* "accused the Aruban government of turning its back on the family."

The government of Aruba turned its back on the family by investing over $ 1.500.000,00 importing Dutch investigators, World reknown interrogator, psychologists, allowing F.B.I., C.I.A., and Interpol their help and expertise, providing Dutch Marines to search, helicopters, F-16's and it's 100 men support team, giving public workers day off to search, Red Cross, community groups, Search and Rescue Teams, providing 25% of the police force to work on the case, Fire fighters and many others which for the First Lady means turning their backs.

The Community and local businesses supported the family with free meals, booze, stays, transportations, reduced fares and rates for services, accumulating up to almost $ 400.000,00 in help and that excluding donations to the Twitty's fund and banks donating thousands of dollars to the Miller Team and reward money.

That is why Aruba deserves the BOYCOTT !!

Logical Thinking. Friends are Important.

Bikinis. Suntans. Partying.

Students look forward to spring break all year, and in a perfect world, they would not have to admit that sometimes binge drinking in an exotic location with people you have just met can be a deadly combination. The most popular spring break destinations are Cancun, Jamaica, Acapulco, South Padre Island and Panama City, according to a 2004 USA Today report.

With the media's heavy coverage of 18-year-old Alabama student Natalee Holloway's disappearance in Aruba in May, it is hard for students to ignore the potential dangers of spring break.

Bob Riley, the governor of Alabama, has recently called for the boycott of travel to Aruba in an attempt to receive more cooperation in the Holloway case from authorities in Aruba. (I thought it was because they had prove that they had sex and raped her according to the only proof they had, Skeeter's Tape) "I would not allow my daughter to go to Aruba," he said.

Riley has asked his fellow governors to support him and make the boycott nationwide."

I'm not nervous about going away for spring break, but the dangers of it are in the back of my mind," said Andy Bean'06. "I would much rather go to Florida than a tropical island.
My parents would feel better too if I went somewhere in the United States."

In an ABC special news report called "Spring Break: Fun Can be Deadly," which aired in March, spring break was called "the Super Bowl of hook-ups." The report emphasized how binge drinking and casual sex are glamorized, which can be potentially dangerous, especially when date rape drugs are thrown into the mix.

Dean of Students Mark Reed said he does not know of any Fairfield students who have ever been killed or harmed on spring break. Stephanie Hohler '06 plans to go to a tropical location for her vacation. She said safety issues did not cross her mind when deciding where to go for spring break.

"There is the potential for danger no matter where you go, plus I know my friends won't ditch me," Hohler said.

Brook Matthews, a sophomore at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, also believes that sticking with her friends will minimize the dangers of spring break. "I'm not afraid to go because I feel like I wouldn't put myself in any danger. I'll be surrounded by my friends," Matthews said.

"I do recognize that it's kind of scary, especially after what happened to Natalee Holloway."

There are three simple tips that can help students have a safe spring break. Never leave your drink unattended and never accept a drink from anyone other than the bartender. Most importantly, stick with and take care of your friends.

Dave Holloway showing his true Face to the World.

The father of Natalee Holloway would like Mississippi to join a travel boycott of Aruba to protest the way officials there have handled the disappearance of his daughter.

Dave Holloway, a Meridian insurance agent, said he has called the governor's office to urge Gov. Haley Barbour to join Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the travel boycott of the Dutch Caribbean island. "I called the governor while he was out of town because I would like to just get his position on it," Holloway told The Meridian Star. "But I haven't heard back from him."

Dave Holloway said residents of Mississippi can boycott Aruba without the governor's urging, but he would like to see Barbour support the effort. Pete Smith, a spokesman for Barbour, said Tuesday the governor has not had time to consider the boycott.

"He's just gotten back from Iraq and he is focusing on federal aid for Hurricane Katrina victims and he has not had a chance to think about it. But he will take a look at it," Smith said. Riley has said he is concerned because the Aruban investigation has produced no results in the case of Holloway, who was 18 when she disappeared during a high school graduation trip to the island May 30.

Riley said and he is not convinced everything possible is being done.

Last month, he asked other governors to urge their citizens not to vacation in Aruba. Huckabee joined the boycott last month, but he is the only other governor so far to do so. Huckabee said Beth Holloway Twitty, Holloway's mother, is originally from Arkansas and that many of the missing teen's other relatives still live in the state. Natalee Holloway is a Clinton, Miss., native. A graduate of Mountain Brook High School in suburban Birmingham, Ala., she was last seen leaving a bar with three young men from Aruba. Each of the three was taken into custody but has since been released.

I think the Governor, IF he has his priorities straight, unlike the two other misinformed governor, he would consider all the help, technical support and donation his state has received and is still receiving from the Netherlands, regarding the Natural disaster in his own state.

Letter from Caribbean Tourism Organization to Condi.

Honourable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
US Department of State

Dear Secretary Rice:

Over the course of the past several months, the American media has covered the disappearance of Ms. Natalee Holloway who visited Aruba on a class trip. We share the grief of her family — especially that of her mother — who clearly is anguished by her disappearance. We understand and applaud Mrs. Holloway’s success in keeping Natalee’s story in the headlines. That success would be the wish of any parent under similar circumstances.

We are most concerned by two developments, however.

The first relates to calls by some media in the United States to “boycott” the Caribbean. Over the same period of time, one television station regularly introduced the Holloway story over the banner “Caribbean CoverUp?” as if the entire Caribbean should be brought into a matter that affects only one of our island nations.

Although this practice of extending a particular situation to the entire geographic region is unmerited, we understand United States’ laws regarding freedom of the press and we have been addressing that matter ourselves.

The other related matter that is particularly distressing is the call for boycotts of Aruba from persons holding elected offices as in the case of the Governor of the State of Alabama. You will understand that the people of Aruba feel particularly selected for persecution when a casual perusal of the FBI’s list of missing persons(http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/kidnap/kidmiss.htm)shows scores of persons who have been missing throughout the United States for far longer periods and there is no call for boycotts of those States in which the missing person was last seen.

Aruba is a strong supporter of the United States in hemispheric matters and depends heavily on its growing tourism business to sustain its economy. Aruba, in fact, is one of the great success stories of our hemisphere particularly as a people who are committed to democratic ideals and economic self-determination.

Moreover, there is no one in our region who believes that any government official in Aruba or in any other Caribbean country would be engaged in protecting the wrongdoing of any individual citizen while risking the entire national economy.

It is for these reasons that we wish to express our strongest possible outrage at these calls for boycotts, particularly from elected officials within the United States. We are confident that wise counsel from your good offices to those individuals and officials regarding these international matters would prove helpful in preventing these troublesome developments.

Sincerely,

CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION

Posted in Aruba http://www.arubatruth.com/