LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

More letters about the investigations in Aruba

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Caribbean Net News continues to receive many emails in relation to the ongoing investigation in Aruba into the disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway. Here are a further selection:

How dare the Aruban and Dutch Governments pretend not to know what has happened. It is clear that you are covering up for Van Der Sloop and his wanna be gansta buddies. 

His father was not quick enough to get rid of the web page… his son’s past is seeping out. Video tapes of gang rapes being sold by this punk… he needs to be sent here for some good old-fashioned justice.

Add another American never returning to Aruba. 

Add another American protesting vigorously to everyone I know and work with to never, never visit Aruba. 

Add another American protesting to any and all vacation and travel agencies to by-pass Aruba for tourism.

Dar Cherry

Wanted to add my voice to the thousands who will no longer spend a dime on anything in or from the Caribbean. 

I am appalled at how the family has been treated by the local police. I simply do not want to be in a place, where, if I got into trouble, I would be dependant on inadequate police to help me. 

No, I will only travel inside the U.S. from now on where the FBI can help if I need it.

One of thousands,

Jason Cochran

I join my fellow Americans in condemning this horrible tragedy that has taken place in Aruba. 

Young American women should be able to travel alone after midnight with three strangers in faraway foreign countries, secure in the knowledge that nothing untoward will happen to them, just as they do when visiting Los Angeles, New York, and Miami. 

I further join my fellow Americans in calling for the immediate return to the USA of all American citizens in Aruba, the Caribbean, Iraq, Afghanistan, and anywhere else in the world, where it is unsafe for Americans. 

Finally, I call on everyone who is outraged by this horrible tragedy to condemn with equal force every injustice committed against citizens of the Caribbean in the USA.

C. Evans 
USA

I just finished reading the letters from several Americans changing their travel plans away from Aruba due to the Natalee Holloway disappearance. I am an American citizen who is deeply saddened at the condemnations towards Aruba, the government and people.

Traveling anywhere is taking a risk. If every country who had one of its citizen a victim of a crime in the USA boycotted travel to the USA, who would be left to visit? 

How quickly these writers forget the tourist shootings, robberies and rip-offs that occur in our country? Just 4 days ago a tourist was shot during a botched robbery in NYC. In Hawaii a teen from NJ died when she fell off a balcony after a night of drinking. Hawaii, crimes against tourist can be prosecuted under federal laws because they threaten interstate commerce.

Safe travel anywhere is not a given, being a safe traveler requires education, action, and awareness.

Another factor that needs to be addressed is some Americans feel it’s okay to send their children on ski trips, spring break outings, after-prom weekends and graduation trips with the instructions, "Be Safe". These trips are infamous for wild parties with alcohol consumption, use of illegal substances and risky behavior. Legal 18-year-old drinking, no parental curfews; instead freedom and the thrill of ducking the chaperones.

It is horrible what has happened in Aruba, my heart goes out to the Holloway family, as it does to the all the families who have lost children while on a teen trip.

Aruba and every other paradise destination have wonderful people. It’s just the criminals out there who ruin it. Why are these American citizens judging and avoiding Aruba based on this one highly publicized heartbreaking incident when the same occurs all over the world, including our own backyard?

Carol Roberts
Freehold, NJ USA

I am writing in response to your published selection of emails you have received concerning the unfortunate missing teenager in Aruba. 

While I am sure it is true that many emails you received followed this "ugly American" trend, I am equally sure you received some that were more supportive of the Aruban officials. 

Aruba has long been one of the favorite locations to visit for many and I would think it still will be after a short downturn. 

At the end of the day, a young woman made a very stupid decision to go off by herself with multiple men she didn't know and it ended in tragedy. 

This same mistake is made the world over every day and is no more the fault of the Aruban police or people than it is mine. 

Joel H. Van Timmeren 
Port Allen, Louisiana 
USA 

Editor’s note: We have so far published all of the letters from readers expressing support of the Aruban authorities or otherwise taking a contrary view to that expressed by what is very much the majority of correspondents.

Hey, I'd like to suggest to your reader Karen Brooks that she spend her next Caribbean vacation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They have lots of experience with murders there, so she should feel extra safe, and her detective husband should feel right at home. Bring your tennis racquet.

John DuQuette
New York City

PS Ask her if her husband can help us figure out who shot Amadou Baloo Dialo, or who set up Serpico?

As an American that has traveled to Aruba many, many times it was nice to see your paper comment on the FBI observer status. I have been reading articles everyday and have yet to see this mentioned in any American paper 

The police in Aruba allow a lot of rude behavior to tourists. Driving motorcycles down the main street at excess speeds and harassing young people in the downtown area are just a few things. All they care about is the tourist dollars. I think the police are hiding information.

Although I like Aruba I don't it will ever be the same. Keep up the good journalism

Bill Ley

I read with disgust some of the postings from typical fair weather Americans regarding the investigation of the missing teen from Alabama. First, let me say that I feel for her family and friends and hope that this comes to a surprising happy ending. Unfortunately, I believe the reality is that this will not end happily.

Nonetheless, I was amazed by citizens of NY and AL criticizing the authorities in Aruba for a sloppy investigation. If their logic holds true, every homicide in NYC should be solved within days because they have so much “practice”. I’m sure there are very experienced, capable law enforcement officials in both NY and AL. But crime still continues in both States. 

Our family discovered the people of Aruba and the island 4 years ago. We return several times a year, and we plan on continuing to visit.

M Dorman
US Citizen

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