Two released in Aruba missing girl case

Natalee Holloway
Photo: aruba.com

by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Senior Regional Correspondent
E-mail: rc@caribbeannetnews.com

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

ORANJESTAD, Aruba: Two security guards, who worked at a hotel in Aruba close to where missing 18-year-old Natalee Holloway was staying when she disappeared on May 30 and who were quickly arrested by police here, were set free on Monday, some 24-hours after Holloway's mother, Betty Holloway-Twitty, said she was firm in her view that the security duo did not have anything to do with her daughter's disappearance.

She also said she was confident that three young men (one of them the son of a judge-in-waiting) who were picked-up by police days after the guards, can say what really happened to her daughter and should be made to speak the truth.

"All three of those boys know what happened to her. They all know what they did with her that night," media reports quoted Holloway's mother as saying.

Noraina Pietersz, the attorney for one of the security guards, told the press, "These guys had nothing to do with this case," adding that the decision to free them is a clear indication of that fact.

Even though authorities in Aruba continue to hold three other men in connection with the May 30 disappearance of the 18 year old, formal charges are yet to be laid.

One of the two who were released said that he was happy to be free and continued to say he is innocent.

A family source told Caribbean Net News that attempts were made to use the guards as scapegoats because they are black.

This allegation has sparked off some racial tension but tourism officials, anxious to downplay any sign of racial conflict, told Caribbean Net News that there are over 52 ethnic groups in Aruba who live and work at some level of harmony.

However, they are concerned that the case of the missing 18-year-old American can "rock the boat" as far as race relations are concerned.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Holloway's mother told the press that if no headway is made fast in this case, she would begin to think that Aruban officials are seeking to shield the trio, who said they had taken her daughter to the beach following a session of dancing and drinking at a popular local night spot.

Police here told Caribbean Net News that the security guards were picked-up following a claim by the trio that they had taken Holloway back to her hotel where a black security guard was seen walking towards her.

However, a police source close to the case disclosed to Caribbean Net News that surveillance tapes from the hotel shows nothing of the sort.

The case has turned out to be an embarrassment for Aruban authorities and Nelson Oduber, the Prime Minister, has said that no one is above the law. On Monday, Oduber said Aruba's government "is doing the utmost" to find Holloway.

Shaken to the core by the presence of scores of newsmen with cameras and tape recorders "poking and probing all over the place," one government spokesperson said the justice system is doing its best, however there are some who feel that their best is not good enough.

Investigations continue.

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