LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Latest letters from readers on the Aruba investigation

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Hey guys, if you feel that we should boycott Aruba, maybe you also feel we should boycott every major and minor American city. It is not really very surprising that something happened to a young, beautiful girl who left the company of her friends and went off with three male strangers in a foreign country at one in the morning. Natalie would have been safe if she had followed a few very basic guidelines which need to be followed in any country, including the US.

Actually, I wonder if the Italian guy was right and Natalie has simply run away. It just doesn't make sense that someone so reportedly smart would do something so patently stupid, even if she was only 19.

We were all surprised by our "runaway bride" turning up safe and selfish and sound, maybe Natalie also is somewhere alive and well and just doesn't care about her parents' anguish.

R. Adams

It’s very interesting to read all the different statements and comments about Aruba and what or what not the US should do….Even in the 21st century most Americans are still ignorant to the fact that the Great USA is no longer the Head Honcho ( Bin Laden proved that every country is touchable).

Yes, there are crimes happening throughout this world. Unfortunately for what happened to the young white American student, I wonder if it were a young black American student the same comments and statements would have been made. Yes, I am proud to be a Black American Virgin Islander.

A. Nibbs
Massachusetts

Every time I read these Americans' comments about Aruba, it only tells of their hypocrisy. To tell Americans that they shouldn't visit that Caribbean island, because of a young lady who went about drinking like if there was no tomorrow, thus allowing herself to be a victim of a crime, (let's just hope that this isn't a case like that of the runaway bride) is uncalled for. Should they claim that their comments are justifiable, then they should just ask that all Americans get out of America rather very quickly, as these things happen over there daily.

Mary Seale went as far as to say that she will no longer visit Aruba, as she didn't want to spend her money on an island where such things happen. My advice to her is that she stops paying taxes to the US Government or spend any money whatsoever, as her country is involved in far more mess than a girl having gone missing on an island. Doesn't she look at her television?

All these Americans want to do is continue keeping the small islands at their knees.

Jepson Victor
Roseau
Dominica

I am appalled at the level of hypocrisy from the Americans contributing to this column. Since when has America been crime free? And also, since when has the American justice system divulged the entire truth?

The truth is, most civilian people do not need to know the truth. You do not know what aspects of the case could be compromised by divulging too much information to people that really don't need to know it. I realize that Natalee's mother and family are trying to get exposure for her daughter by constantly appearing on news stations but perhaps that is why they are not being told as much as they would like. Because they are constantly talking to the media. People need to realize how delicate and intricate these cases are.

Also, to the plethora of Americans threatening to boycott Aruba -- grow up. These tourist destinations are not free of the same problems that face major industrialized countries, such as the US. If international tourists adopted the same point of view as some of the Americans writing these letters, then New York City would never be frequented, nor would Los Angeles, Orlando, etc.

Although no human ever deserves to be mistreated, harmed, etc., the reality is that some responsibility should be placed on Holloway's shoulders. Yes, this is a tragedy and I pray for her and her loved ones, but at 18 you are a legal adult. No matter where you travel in the world.

And Miss Holloway was blatantly irresponsible for going anywhere with people she did not know. As were her friends just as irresponsible for allowing this to happen. Not all of the blame should be placed on the chaperones. These are not children and if 18-year-old can be tried as an adult for murder then they should be trusted to protect their own well-being.

I pray that Natalee is found unharmed, and I pray that whoever has taken her shall be punished to the fullest extent. However, boycotting a small island county for one isolated act is immature, narrow-minded and childish. No wonder people have negative views of Americans.

Ashlee Berteotti
Pennsylvania, USA

Dear Mr. Fine

As a journalist, I learned thru Caribbean Net News of your so-called intelligent tactic of calling for a ban of the entire Caribbean.

That is not only ridiculous, but out of order!

I am telling you now as resident of this part of the world, it is as if after 9/11 disaster that the entire Caribbean decided not to let in any resident from Canada nor the US as you all had the potential to bring unwanted elements of society into our domain; it is as stupid if after the disease known as SARS that we let in no one from all of Asia along with Canada and the US.

No one told the girl to break away from her group and go with strangers! Common sense dictates when anyone is in a strange environment be it near or far that safety lies in numbers of one's own milieu!

Aruba is as close to Barbados or Grenada or St. Lucia as Mobile is as close to either Houston, TX or Buffalo, NY and calling for a ban on the entire region is therefore out of place.

Should the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association and its counterparts along with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and the Caribbean Hotel Association run a class action suit and press charges against you and your yellow tabloidisms to gain ratings at the expense of a people?

You are attempting a form of genocide, and it shows ingratitude to the Caribbean who as a people have contributed to the USA and the world - former US Secretary of State Colin Powell is the son of Jamaican parents; Canadian Senator Anne Cools is from Barbados; Sir Vidiadhar Naipaul, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature was born in Trinidad and Sir Derek Walcott who won the same prize in the 90's was born in St. Lucia - who are you to create a false hue and cry for one person in another part of a WIDE archipelago?

Many Americans are notoriously known for their inaccurate knowledge of an atlas far less a map of the USA, when is the last time you looked at a map of the Caribbean - you make Bob Dornan, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity look like intellectuals! Please find enclosed a map of the Caribbean for your education.

Ian Bourne

It is shocking and down right horrible how the "so called" justice system is run in Aruba. In any country on the face of this planet, we call earth, when a crime is suspected to have been committed the local police will spring into action and secure the crime scene. To preserve the crime scene is the first priority.

However Aruba doesn’t act like most countries when it comes to police work. Is it because they have a conflict of interest with one of their own being accused or are they truly not up to doing first rate police work? The longer they drag their feet with this investigation the longer public opinion will weigh against them. They are doing a disservice to the people and country by not doing their job in a efficient manner.

I pity Aruba and its people because the world has now seen that tourists can not be protected by its police force. I urge all foreign tourists planning to vacation in Aruba to cancel their plans until and if the police there can ever get their act together. If you have any esteem you will print this letter entirely for all to read. Dont be like your unfortunate police force and try to hide the truth. The truth will make you free!

Bill Vevoda

I find it totally absurd to read letters from people implying that it was Natalie's fault she is gone because she made "bad choices” or because her parents were divorced - that is the equivalent to saying a woman deserves to be raped if she wears sexy attire or divorced parents raise children who make "bad choices"!

And to compare crime in the United States where there are over 270 million people within 3 million square miles to a tiny island of only 66,000 occupants in a 75 square mile radius surrounded by water is absolutely ridiculous.

This case for the Aruban police should be like shooting fish in a barrel and since it is not there is no doubt there is something going on here that is smoke and mirrors or blatant incompetence. You don't have to be an American to see this as an injustice to the Holloway family.

Konrad and Grace Zeilmann

All these people calling for a boycott, I agree with you. Power in numbers, we make choices every day; use that power to help others! Even if you don't fully agree; if it was your child wouldn't you want people on your side trying to help you? We all need to try to understand what the VICTIMS and their families are going through and do whatever we can whether it be prayer, boycott, or write a simple letter.

Mary Frisko
Vineland, New Jersey

I think it's a shame that Aruba is protecting the little 17-year-old boy. He no doubt murdered Natalee, and then ran home to have daddy cover up his crime for him!

I've been to Aruba and believe me it's not so special. For those who will be boycotting Aruba -- you should consider Tahiti/Bora Bora (where there's no crime at all, they LOVE Americans and it's gorgeous). It's a bit more pricey than the Caribbean, but I'd say the extra money is worth not ending up as fish food!

Kathleen Rennscheidt
Austin, TX

We as an American family visit the Caribbean twice a year, Aruba, Virgin Gorda, Grenada, etc. We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon now with this Natalee missing and Aruba not working to arrest the men they know did it we will be returning to the Hawaiian Islands and encouraging all our family and friends.

Having our own ordeal in Aruba with theft in our hotel room and the authorities and management of the Marriott not doing one thing to recover our lost goods shows that crime in Aruba does happen! My sister is in a wedding this summer and they were going to have it in Aruba but now have changed to the American Islands of Hawaii.

Jacqui & Chad Fields

Please allow me to apologize for the ignorance of my co-countrymen in wanting to boycott Aruba. Please rest assured that not all of us Americans feel the same way. I'm sure the Aruba authorities are doing everything they can to find the young Holloway girl.

This is one American that has visited your country and will do so again.

R .Drake Dorman

It is not my nature to think of events as totally catastrophic. However, for some reason, this tragic event has haunted me, as it has many others. My youngest son (23 and vacationing in Costa Rica) quickly responded to my concerns by reminding me that hundreds of people are being killed in Iraq everyday. I acknowledged that fact, but my concerns are exasperated by the rumors. At least, I believe they are unfounded rumors.

I would like to read that someone within the Aruban government, or at the very least someone in the tourism community, would address these rumors. The connections between this disappearance and that of a young girl off a cruise ship a few years ago, the Venezuelan prostitute ring, a kidnapping conspiracy, etc. need to be clarified, dispelled or at least acknowledged.

Please respond to this educator and frequent world traveler.

Patricia D. Simpson
Pennsylvania, USA

As the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba winds on, I can't help but believe that Aruba was never the idyllic vacation island that it was offered to be - but rather a highly controlled environment where date-rape drugs and illicit sex were commonplace.

Mark my word that Aruban authorities will prove to have more to cover-up here than the just the Holloway crime and this case will extend well into international proportions. This is not just the case of a single American girl gone missing, but rather a host of nefarious circumstances leading up to, during, and after her disappearance - and how Aruban authorities covered up for local citizens to contain the real truth about this 'island paradise'.

Natalee Holloway is not the first American girl to go missing with some connection to the local establishments in Aruba - and while Aruba may have been a favorite American vacation spot, it is also an international destination. Who knows how many other young women from around the world may have suffered lesser fates while visiting the island and had no recourse, willingness or opportunity to press charges?

Natalee Holloway would never have wanted to become the 'poster child' for what may prove really to be the case in Aruba, but Natalee Holloway may well have saved many another young woman from disgrace and dishonor in Aruba.

Richard Wanick
Tucson, Arizona

It seems like Aruba thinks more of its judges than an innocent girl missing and most likely murdered. That judge and his sinister son should have been arrested immediately. You people need to get your priorities straight! I for one will not and most certainly do not want to ever go to your corrupt biased cowardly country that favors judges and their families! How could you live with yourselves? Her blood is on all your hands!

Nancy Oliver
Alaska

I have been following the story in Aruba and am sickened by all the comments about the missing girl, she was drunk, and how could she leave with three men? The only people that know what happened to her are the men that are in jail. Why are some people blaming the victim?

We all know it wasn't Natalee's best judgment to leave with them, but evidently she felt safe for some reason, and that is sad, because all the people she probably came in contact with after she left the club, not one of them helped her get out of whatever situation she was in.

That is one reason I probably will not visit Aruba, there should have been at least one person help Natalee, instead of covering up something. We all know with all the lies and changing stories something bad has happened, why would the suspects keep changing their stories, which tells me they are all hiding something. I feel bad for the family of Natalee, it has to be horrible and frustrating. I have Natalee and her family in my prayers.

Donna Keller
USA

This letter is in response to Shelley Crim who is "flabbergasted" by my recent comments regarding Natalee Holloway. Well Shelley, to show you how uninformed you are regarding this situation, I'd like to let you know that Natalee Holloway's friends said that they saw her get into the car. Now I don't think that they would have stood by and watch someone force her into a vehicle.

Another thing, use common sense here, something Natalee did not do. Out of 124 students who were on the trip, why would they single out Natalee to be drugged? For what reason? Because she's blonde and blue? I don't think so. Natalee idiotically went willingly with 3 men she did not know. Unfortunately, she and her family now suffer the consequence of her behavior.

Frankly, I am really unsympathetic toward anyone who suffers the consequences of their actions. You kill, you go to jail. You steal, you go to jail. You run off with 3 men you don't know…

However, I am sympathetic toward Natalee's family. But because Natalee made a foolish move in another country, her family will simply have to follow the processes and procedures regarding investigations of that country. I would have liked to see these "I want answers" people go to Europe and do the same thing had it occurred in that country.

Furthermore, Shelley, had you comprehended my letter you would have realized that I am totally against the boycott Aruba idea.

And to Natalee's mother, I say, please... just go home. There is nothing that you could do for Natalee... what you could have done is too late to do... and that is to "train your child".

Cat Berry-Brown

As I think back at the statements made by young Joran van der Sloot: “some people disappear and end up at drug houses, etc, then they re-appear”. This tells me that there is a cover up going on here. Then, the DJ gets arrested, now Paul van der Sloot.

Without jumping to conclusions, the van der Sloot’s, DJ and the government are all in this together. It would not surprise me to find out that Natalie has been taken to Venezuela and is at a “drug house/prostitution”.

Whatever the government knows, they should be upfront and inform the public, otherwise, they will hurt their country economically. As some of the other Americans have already said: “maybe it’s time to vacation in our own country”. Government corruption in the Caribbean is rampant, same as “third world countries”.

This is a very unfortunate situation. Everyone needs to be careful when traveling anywhere, but when we hear things like this, one can’t help but to stay away from Aruba.

Best wishes to Natalie’s family.

My prayers are with you.

Raul Fernandez
Michigan

I agreed with a vast number of American citizens who believe it is a shame that Aruban and Dutch Governments have to pretend not to know what has happened to Natalee Holloway (a very trusting and innocent young girl) when the facts are very strong and clear.

My family and I recently talked about going to Aruba on vacation but it will NEVER HAPPEN NOW. We would feel very unsafe with our three very innocent daughters. I only hope that the Aruban and Dutch Governments follow through with prosecuting the three culprits who obviously have something to hide when they cannot keep their stories straight.

Joan Stephens

I have personally written our President, George W. Bush, and asked him to consider extreme military action if Natalee is not returned now. It’s about time that Americans cleaned up the Caribbean and stopped the drug running and white slavery you are well known for. You are all communist sympathisers and need to have your backside kicked. Return Natalee now, or else.

Tabitha Hawkins
USA

As an Aruban woman living in Sint Maarten, Eastern Caribbean, also a part of the Netherlands Antilles, I would like to give my opinion to the people of America.

Aruba has been the most crime free island in the Caribbean for ever since, and I do not understand that now that one incident has happened the Americans can react so harshly.

All the years gone by we have been known to be the friendliest island in the Caribbean. We have the name of always having the best of service and especially the Americans praise us for our ability to understand their language so well so that this makes their stay in Aruba most pleasant.

All the years Arubans have been doing their best service-wise to comply with the wishes of tourists and please them all the way. Now that one unfortunate incident has happened, there are people, whether they have visited Aruba or not, ready to criticize our government, police authorities, and even our people. This is not acceptable and we feel that as Arubans we should protest severely.

Concerning the case of the missing Miss Natalee Holloway, I would like to say that we as Arubans are very sorry this has happened to her. We pray that she is safe, and that her family can have the strength to cope with this tragedy.

I would still like to mention the following: In the Caribbean we are sometimes flabbergasted when we see the attitude and manner of behaviour of American women who visit the islands. Whether they are here alone or in company of their husbands. The men on our islands are known to go after these women when they visit our discos, bars or even in restaurants, because they behave so indecently, and they are seen with any local man when they are intoxicated.

I do not want to say that it serves Ms. Holloway well, that she has gotten into trouble, but I do want to emphasize that the behaviour of American women, is simply ridiculous and not acceptable to Caribbean women. Not in Aruba nor in any other Caribbean island.

I have lived in Aruba, Curacao, and now in St. Maarten and I have visited all entertainment places on these islands and in every one of these islands, the behaviour of Americans can be seen as simply indecent. I do not want to generalize, but I do have to mention this in defence of tourism of my island.

I do want to remind the Americans that no matter where a woman is, having a good time does not mean getting drunk, dancing vulgar and inviting men to accompany them. A woman should keep her decency wherever she is.

Miss Natalee Holloway was seen with Joran van der Sloot, and his 2 friends in Carlos & Charlie's Bar and willingly stepped into a car with these 3, not 1 but 3 guys! Even though she is a very intelligent A-student, her behaviour seems rather strange. Some people imply that she was drugged, or she was drunk. What was an intelligent girl as Natalee Holloway thinking when she got drunk or drugged? Even if she met Joran van der Sloot one night before in the Casino, why would she go into a car with him and his 2 friends ALONE?

A local Aruban girl would NEVER do that. A girl in the USA, no matter how many diplomas she had, would NEVER do that. While all the other students stayed together and went back to the hotel together, she insisted on going into a car ALONE with 3 guys! Why didn’t the media ever speak about this? Why were the other girls and boys who were accompanying Natalee that night at Carlos and Charlie's Bar not interviewed and asked their opinion concerning Natalee's behaviour that night? That was never done.

I just want to point out that an intelligent girl knows not to use drugs, not to get drunk and not to leave ALONE with strangers. We Aruban girls NEVER accept a drink or smoke from a stranger in a disco or for that matter anywhere. I think she was intelligent enough to know that.

Americans should realise that these things can happen anywhere. In the USA crimes of this kind happen daily and the people of America KNOW this. The TV show "Unsolved Mysteries" is well known on all the Caribbean islands, and we are surprised at the reaction of Americans now that 1 girl has disappeared on a Caribbean island. The Americans are ready to criticize, condemn and even hurt the Aruban people. "Unsolved Mysteries" is a program, developed and created in the USA, not in the Caribbean.

How about all those girls that disappear daily in the USA either raped and killed or just MISSING!! Do they speak about those or have they forgotten their own country?

Should all people in the world STOP going to the USA because of all the crimes that are committed in the USA? Should we ban the USA from tourism? Should we tell people all over the world NOT to visit the USA because you can be mugged, raped or murdered at any time of the day?

PLEASE! Lets leave the thinking about the how and why of Natalee Holloway's case to the FBI and local authorities in Aruba. They know what they are doing. To say that the government and police of Aruba are no good, is just hurting the people of Aruba. If the FBI of the USA is so good, they would have solved the case a long time ago. If the police of the USA is so good, ALL THE OTHER CASES like Natalee's in the USA would have been solved a long time ago, or not?

The Americans should also be careful going into another person's country and trying to bring their laws with them. This is not how the world is; each country has its own laws and regulations, which should be respected by visitors. And Americans cannot come into a country and dictate as it seems necessary to them. They have been welcomed by the authorities in Aruba to bring in the FBI with all their equipment, and still she Natalee Holloway has not been found.

Americans should be more grateful people, and they should go on their knees and pray together with Natalee's family so that the whereabouts of Natalee can be traced.

As an Aruban I want to say to all Americans: Aruba is a beautiful island, we are decent people, we love giving service and we are honest people. No matter what happens on our island, because of people who visit and bring crime here, we will keep on being the people we are. So come to our island when you please and enjoy wonderful vacations here. We love all tourists!

Claire Augustin
Sint Maarten
Netherlands Antilles
Eastern Caribbean

I just wanted to be the first to apologize for talking so poorly about the Aruban Police. "Great job, guys, and I am truly sorry for the things I said about the department." It just took a little longer for you to do it than it would have here in the US, not saying that is a bad thing. I hope those who had anything to do with the murder of Natalee rots in hell! Again I praise you for allowing the FBI and the Texas search team to come in and help. I will visit Aruba again.

Ashley Graves
USA

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