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As a frequent traveller of the Carribean I am always amazed at how few people that I speak to have even heard of the Holloway case and even those that have never really felt it impacted the country of Aruba in much of a negative way. I do not think it especially did the damage that the boycott group had hoped it was to do.
I see often on that scared monkey board posting pictures of no one on the beach but when I have been there the beaches were loaded. I just don't think this case has been hurt so much by this but more the economy of other countries in general.
 Dotty Friday, September 11, 2009 06:37 PM
Several of the people I know from Carribean nations, and living here, know the case well, and they have opinions that are quite strong. It all depends whom one talks to.
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linda Saturday, September 12, 2009 09:08 AM
I am sure that people who live in Aruba DO have strong feelings about this case. I bet the people that live in Boulder Colorado have strong feelings about the Unsolved Case of Jon Benet. But people have not stopped going to Boulder and the University of Col is still popular. Unsolved crimes are a part of life, something these crazy boycotters never seemed to get. I doubt very much that it has caused many to not travel to Aruba. And for each that might have decided against going, 5 other ones probably said lets go to Aruba, even out of curiosity. Funny how people like to drive by those car accidents and watch. I bet at this point no real effect at all.
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Dotty Saturday, September 12, 2009 01:42 PM
Most of the people who went to Aruba out of curiousity have loved Aruba and keep going back. I would never boycott or share in a boycott against any nation because it simply is counter-productive and gets less answers and just alot of hostility. IMO Beth probably felt she had no ohter option because truths weren't forthcoming. I do believe there were people who tried to change her mind on many things and gave her "stories" that may not have been honest either.
It's not the few missing people that would change my mind about going there, rather the stories that have come out of there since the disappearance and by whom. So many have degraded a missing and presumed dead girl. For that reason and others I couldn't muster up the desire to visit Aruba.That's not boycotting, just that Aruba doesn't sound desirable in case I should face a legal problem not brought on by myself. The pictures are beautiful out of the Carribean, however Europe is my place of adventure, and there are many more missing people there.
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bella Saturday, September 12, 2009 02:07 PM
When I speak to friends or family across the country, nobody knows who she is and if they have a vague recollection of the name, they could care less. Drunken teens get in trouble in Florida and Cancun as well. The only difference is their parents don't go on publicity tours to smear locals and lie about their drunken daughter or son.
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ArubanVisitor Monday, September 14, 2009 09:34 AM
Having been to Aruba about every other year for the last 20, I can say most Arubans want to put this behind them and move on. In the beginning the issue of Joran and the Kalpoes guilt was mixed and now it might be leaning more in Joran's favor but still probably more about how those more recent "so called confessions," brought more bad publicity against Aruba than actual guilt for the disappearance of Natalee. But most have put even that behind them and have moved on. A lot of them have seen many a drunk young teen on their island celebrating and do know what that can lead to. And there is still major resentment against Beth for all her tirades of untruth and for wanting a boycott against the island and its people that really did try and help her that summer. Most think she was not so very gracious and grateful.
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Dotty Monday, September 14, 2009 11:11 AM
Beths tirades were mainly out of desperation imo. She was being given alot of different stories...even Dompig was clear on that. I suppose she did the PR to get help. I don't think all of what she said were lies, though some may have been embellished quite a bit.
I have info from co-workers who visit Aruba and question people when they have the chance and I hear alot different than what you are saying. Especially since Joran showed on tape, Natalee shaking before she didn't respond anymore. That was never talked about on blogs/forums. That was a question that ALE asked Beth and Jug, whether Natalee had seizures. Then out of the blue, Joran mentions the seizures on the tape. It wasn't the weed either.
I agree most Arubans want this behind them, but they are an honest lot and they will talk if asked.
I agree the boycott didn't build any bridges thats for sure.
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CD Tuesday, September 15, 2009 07:31 PM
There is not one person in my whole world of friends that believes one thing that woman (Beth) has ever said on tv. She was nasty, unfeeling and never seemed to have a clue about her daughter nor showed any genuine emotion, or even know what her daughter was really like.
If Natalee had been anywhere in the states and disappeared I would, based on her mom's actions alone believe she absolutely ran away. Throw her stepdad into the mix and I would guarantee it.
Makes it harder to think this is what happened in a foreign country but does not make it impossible.
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Dotty Friday, October 9, 2009 08:37 AM
CD she was desperate and was being given quite a runaround. Even Dompig denied some things in discussions that were later to be found in statements.
Anyone missing a flesh and blood relative would get desperate in such a situation. She acted as though no one took her serious. She burned her bridges with all her PR I must admit. For that she will not get any answers I'm sure and it's too bad Aruba made that stance.
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CD Sunday, October 11, 2009 11:52 AM
Dotty ... When a child goes missing parents certainly are desperate, no question or disagreement there. But to jump on the island with a bunch of angry friends in hand and begin to start taking over with that 3 a.m. launch on the VDS home seems way over the line. Then there were the actions, so I have heard of Jug and his pals storming all over the city like a page out of the Wild West. I would imagine the police became very leery very early on with this family and not having the leadership of an experienced group of investigators they put barriers up and it caused a separation of cooperation from almost day 1.
I do not believe I have ever read of any family that was quite as aggressive as they were in Aruba with an investigation and with all that, it still got them no where. Plus the media was a contributor because their attack on Aruba being almost a banana republic right from the beginning coupled with the actions of Beth and Jug's crew, all portraying Aruba in a bad light just fueled this case to a point that could never be turned around. Lots of lessons could be learned on what not to do by this case.
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Dotty Thursday, October 15, 2009 12:24 AM
Beth probably thought Natalee had stayed with Joran the night and she probably thought they were taking her home that night or in the morning.
What were ALE thinking when they allowed this 3 AM visit? It was their jurisdiction. All they needed to do was put a stop to the visit or offer jail overnight if they didn't comply.
Yes, those stories of Jug and friends barging around like Texas bulls in Aruba was something else. What makes a person do that sort of thing? I would say INCORRECT info would do that. Strange tips that Natalee is in a crackhouse would make anyone barge around.
I wouldn't consider Aruba a banana republic b/c they have a very minimal rate of people with a lower education compared to other larger countries. They shouldn't have acted like a banana republic with the case. They did it to themselves and blamed the Americans.
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CD Saturday, October 17, 2009 01:58 AM
Sorry I do not think Aruba did that bad of a job considering how inexperienced they were in ever having what became such a high profile case. What really made this case different and what caused the greatest challenge was the entire media force from the USA descending on the island almost immediately and attacking almost immediately Aruban/Dutch law. It seems the fact that their law enforcement had different ways was not quite right for the American law critics. Plus the family of Natalee seemed to feel bolstered by the media's criticism and maybe the ALE started reacting to the family and the media. This little island has a fairly safe record compared to the other islands for serious crime. It is a fact that almost seemed lost after awhile.
One thing though I wish the police had prevented the Van der Sloot house invasion in the middle of the night. Had that never happened I think we might be at a different place today with this story.
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Dotty Monday, October 19, 2009 06:56 PM
CD, I'm not saying Aruba didn't do a good job in what became a high profile case. One needs to only glimpse at the discovery log plus countless other material to know how much work they did. They got off to a shakey start though and imo lost what never can be retrieved again. I can only wonder what might have been had there not been a home invasion at 3 AM.
To date Aruba hasn't solved any missing persons cases, and imo they want them to just go away.
Take a look at Hogan missing in Curacao...blaming the family and his nightlife. So far American media has said very little and I wonder if they are holding back to see how this all unfolds. I have read now countless writings how people feel about Hogan's disappearance and the first thing on their minds was how will this affect tourism, and their living. I suppose people who work for tourism have to be worried, however it gave me a bitter taste. If I were to go there for vacation, would I be viewed as "income"? For myself I have made up my mind, I will vacation where "tourism" isn't the only means of employment and money in the pocket for the locals.
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CD Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:02 AM
Why would the American media cover the case of James Hogan? There are thousands of people that go missing all the time and unless you are white or young it rarely gets covered unless it is a slow news time. It was the perfect time for Natalee to go missing as far as coverage goes because it was summer, no politics or anything serious going on. The minute Katrina happened and hard news was available those news outlets bolted from Aruba never to return.
Actually I think the media set this case back. It is what the police are doing that counts not what the media is saying about what the police is doing. Other than circulating her picture for aid in maybe locating her that is all the media is really good for.
Aruba cannot help that there income comes from the tourist industry. What else is there on a tiny island? Actually that should make them more interested in solving the case not less.
I guess it goes back to whether one thinks they did the best job they could have with this case. From my end I believe they did. Way too many cases unsolved all over to just focus on one missing girl as the only case that absolutely should have been solved over any other. This one just seemed to have the right people in charge to make it more visible. All that visibility could have worked against the poor girl, we just don't know.
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Dotty Sunday, October 25, 2009 11:27 AM
Well I don't think tourism is the only income, but it's all that the average person in the hospitality field has, and I do believe they wanted the case solved. Someone in the upper ranks must be making a killing on drugs that come through there although that doesn't benefit the average joe.
I am confused about the safety on Aruba. I know it's touted as a safe and happy island, however Glenda just posted at RU about the underworld operating there and Natalee was the scapegoat for. Very interesting stories out of Aruba.
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Frannie Tuesday, October 27, 2009 11:26 AM
Seems drugs is a part of the Caribbean and if a young person is smart they will respect that and stay away from that element down there when they travel. Lots of talk about how heavily this Alabama group of teens was with drug usage, that being the case almost anything could have happened to her. And if it was drugs I doubt we will ever know. For the average tourist that stays away from that element I would imagine that it is very safe.
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