Boycott Aruba?

16 responses to “Boycott Aruba?”

1. Kevin | November 9, 2005 at 11:39 am |

   Not that it would work, but it will be interesting to hear Aruban officials’ response to this idea.

2. J.A.S.O.N. | November 9, 2005 at 3:25 pm |

   Is this fair to ask the nation to boycott tavel to Aruba when there are thousands of missing persons here in the US that our own law enforcement can’t find?

   I don’t want to make light of her family’s suffering, but how is Natalee Holloway any more or less important than, say, Reyna Gabriella Alvarado-Carerra, a 13-year old girl abducted here in the US?

   Natalee goes missing and we have war planes from other countries helping in the search and threats of travel boycotts. A 13 year old goes missing within our own borders and it doesn’t even get a mention on the evening news.

3. Gary LaPointe | November 9, 2005 at 4:31 pm |

   Kevin: It might work a little bit. If people can’t decide between two places (Aruba and choice B) and they hear about “the boycott” and remember what happened it might help make the decision for them. Enough people and they’ll notice the difference.

   J.A.S.O.N.: I totally see your point and even agree with you but it’s always the squeeky wheel that gets heard. And the news media decides what’s “news” for the day.

4. J.A.S.O.N. | November 9, 2005 at 5:06 pm |

   Gary,

   Which is exactly my point. It makes me wonder who she or her family knows to have garnered this much publicity, but, again, I really don’t want to make light of their suffering. I can only imagine what it’d be like if my own daughter were kidnapped.

   I also doubt this “boycott” will have any meaningful effect on their tourism. Worse things happen here in the Us and we LIVE here! :-)

5. Melushka | November 10, 2005 at 2:02 pm |

   To: Gary La pointe, I am an Arubian and I will like to tell you that we are a small population and I myself spent some time with the family Holloway. My quention to you is what can we do that we have not done yet? Can you tell me.
   I think that nothing will be enough for this family until they find answers. I think they deserve answers. But to Boycott innocent people who work hard for theire money, is not the solution.Did you know that the family got:
   – everything paid during there stay
   – we got F16 planes from Holland that cost millions to search on the island?
   – we got off days for helping searching? Do you Gary help search for an unknown person in your neighbourhood or US ?
   This is just a small part of it to let you see that this situation is not common on our island and that for us it is also very painfull.
   Melushka, Aruba

6. J.A.S.O.N. | November 10, 2005 at 3:49 pm |

   Melushka,

   Gary was not targeting anyone with his post, but mentioning that some politician in Alabamba was talking about a boycott so I suggest you read more closely and phrase your responses with less venom.

7. Melushka | November 11, 2005 at 8:13 am |

   Jason,
   First of all I really don’t understand your comment. I was talking about the last mail from Gary where he said that when people remember what happend it might help them make a decision. I don’t know why you say that I talk with venom because that was not my intention with this mail. I just want to know what Gary thinks that must be done. Melushka, Aruba.

8. Judy | November 11, 2005 at 9:40 am |

   I feel that the government of Aruba is crooked and that because Paul van der sloot is well connected he and his son were protected from the beginning. I personally believe that there was a coverup from the beginning and I am encouraging all my friends who travel regularly to respect the requested boycott. I and many others have called the cruise lines advising them that we would no be cruising on any ship that stops in Aruba. We do not want to punish the Aruban people but we do want honesty and justice. I will continue to be an advocate in this case in any way that I can! Whoever made up the saying “Money Talks” could not have said truer words. Hit them where it hurts and perhaps some justice will take place. I realize that there is corruption in all governments but I am shocked that because of a polital connections murder is acceptable is just unfathomable to me. Hello Bermuda, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, etc. and good bye Aruba regardless of how beautiful you are.

9. Melushka | November 11, 2005 at 1:00 pm |

   Judy,
   Did you hesrd on the news that a week ago two men from NYC were shot and killed in St.Thomas?
   Do we have to boycott St.Thomas till they find out who did this horrible crime?? Of course not, because I think that it is not fair to destroy people who has nothing to do with the case.
   Melushka, Aruba

10. Michael | December 1, 2005 at 2:21 pm |

    We were in Aruba just prior to Ms Holloways disapearance. The Aruban people were very friendly and we looked forward to visiting again. In light of the incident we have changed travel plans and will never visit Aruba again. The main concern is the apparent connection between three punks, a high official and the police. Corruption is prevalent especially in a drug connection country. We do extend the invitation for the three boys and father to visit the U.S., I am sure there are a lot of people here who would love a close-up and personal conversation.

11. Vee | December 16, 2005 at 3:10 pm |

    Yep, boycott them, I have heard the Arubian people are rude & nasty towards anyone from the USA investigating this ‘murder’ and since THEY can put a LOT of pressure on their own police/gov’t to solve this case, and choose not to, then who cares if they get hurt by a boycott? Plus, these boys have big mouths, so you KNOW they were bragging to someone about what they did, and no one as contacted the police the cowards. I wanted to go there, but will go to any of a dozen islands in the Carribbean that are just as nice if not nicer. If a group of people don’t appreciate where their way of life is coming from (ie tourist dollars), they deserve to lose it!

12. Nicky | January 19, 2006 at 5:18 pm |

    I was just wondering if any of the people who responded to this web site have any children? How would you feel if it were your child missing? What lengths would you go to? My children are around the same age as Natalie and I would stop at nothing to find out what happened. Natalie is an American who just happened to be traveling in Aruba. As an American citizen I think it’s our duty to support our citizen’s. Therefore I am not going to travel to Aruba and will give my hard earned American dollars to travel in the good ole USA.

13. Fernando | March 1, 2006 at 8:10 am |

    I am an Aruban. I wanted to say to all the Americans that no matter what you say, or do to us we will always be one happy island. And as for natalee, she wasn’t an ‘inocent’girl, they have posted pictures of her dancing on the bar. And who in their right mind would go with three boys who she doesn’t even know. I think if Beth Twitty raised her little girl the right way, none of this would have happened. And it’s not true that Arubans are rude, We always help the tourists that are lost, or once me and my family were eating in a restaurant at one side of the island, and there was a tourist who didn’ know his way back to his hotel, and my father drove with our car to the other side of the island so, we can help this man. And we did this more than once, so if you want to call someone rude look in your own side of the fence, because i went to the U.S just once, and my aunt was pregnant, and an AMERICAN woman stole her wallet which had the money for her to buy her baby supplies. And in America there are alot of people missing, so, should we boycott the U.S too?? That wouldn’t be fair would it??????????? Aruba one happy island.

14. Mary | March 19, 2006 at 11:24 am |

    I have to partially agree with Fernando’s comment. What happened to Natalee Holloway was a tragedy (my prayers are with her family); however, she was old enough to know not to go off by herself with a couple of strangers in a strange place. It was a foolish & costly mistake. But that doesn’t mean her mother didn’t raise her right. Natalee was on a high school trip with her friends enjoying her vacation, knowing she was graduating high school in a month & going off to college. Most young people feel carefree and “untouchable”, that “nothing bad can happen to them”. She probably felt extremly happy and safe on the island-as Aruba is known as “One Happy Island”. She obviously felt secure to leave her friends behind and go off with these strange guys for a couple of hours of “fun”.

    But that’s not to say that Aruba should be boycotted. My husband and I have a 7 night vacation booked to Aruba in July and we are VERY much looking forward to it. The bottom line is tradegy can strike ANYWHERE, at ANY TIME, to ANYBODY. We must never forget that we live in a beautiful, but sometimes dangerous world and it’s always good, no matter where you go, to be “street smart” and exercise caution.

15. Rob | May 10, 2006 at 10:48 pm |

    Wow! Some people in here from the US speak of Aruba having a crooked Govt.
    Wake up! There are children of high officials in every state of the U.S. who commit crimes and get off because Daddy is so-and-so. Boycott Aruba?
    Most Americans are idiots. I’m American but I’m not one of them. Use your heads.
    Alabama? Why would anyone take that state seriously in the first place? I say boycott Alabama.

16. Sahara | July 24, 2006 at 1:57 pm |

    Fernando’s says so much with just a few words! What does dancing on a bar have to do with anything? My wife and have been to CNC on other islands and we both danced on the bar! Its what people do there! Does that mean that we should be killed and no one care enough to want justice? Yep, you said EVERYTHING that I wanted to know about the one crapy island!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment *

Name *

Email *

Website

CAPTCHA Code *

Δ