Times03feb10

WEDNESDAY, 3 FEBUARY,2010

| Margrietstraat #3,Oranjestad, Aruba | Tel: (297) 583-1400 | email: info@thearubatimes.com

The return of KLM is the beginning of new era for what concerns the marketing of the Aruba in the European Market

Last Wednesday morning in the session of meeting the press, Otmar Oduber, Minister for Tourism, elaborated on the good news for the return of KLM to Aruba on Monday, February 1st at 2:15 in the afternoon.

The return is filled with great happiness. He told the press on how our actual Prime Minister, who was then a Parliament Member and his other colleagues raised questions about KLM decision of cancelling their flight for Aruba. He explains that

With the return of KLM, the float that already exists of Martinair with six weekly flights, the intention is to increase this with seven flights.

ArkeFly has four weekly flights and KLM in its first phase of flying back to Aruba, initiates with two weekly flights.

with partners in the business for the European market is becoming a reality. Minister Otmar Oduber says that right now formalizing contacts with our partners in the European market is very valuable. He furthermore informs that in the past 30% of KLM passengers originated from other counties in Europe. Thos countries are important market for Aruba. Last year it was decided to double Aruba’s presence in the European Market.

With all this, the vision to formalize

Minister Oduber explained that

KLM’s presence on Aruba means a lot to Aruba for what concerns the European Market.

nevertheless the marketing of Aruba in the United States of Americana remains strong. U.S.A. remains its main market and due to this an additional 12 million Aruban florins has been made available in Aruba’s Government budget to use in the different USA markets. But he also points out that the strong dependency on the USA markets has to change in the coming four years. The vision is to diversify and here the role of Europe becomes very important.

Minister Dowers on visit at the Aruba House in Holland DEN HAAG – Mr. Dr. Arthur Dowers, Aruba’s Minister of Justice and Education, visited the Aruba House in Holland. The official was accompanied by his advisor Mrs. Carmen Tromp.

They were welcomed by Minister Plenipotentiary, Minister Edwin Abath. The Minister in his capacity on Justice in Aruba informed his collegue in Holland abou the program concerning his visit to Holland. During his visit, Minister Dowers got acquainted with the Dutch government officials. He met with officials from

the Dutch judicial institutions and also with those of the Dutch educational institutions. His program included a visit to the Scheveningen prison and one center that deals with youth delicuency and punishment.

Minister Dowers busy schedule permitted him a meeting with the study- mentors of the Aruba House.

He intents to meet and talk to the Aruban students. Minister Abath after the many conversations will tour Dowers around the Aruba House Building and he will at the same time meet with the personell of both the

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The Aruba Times

Wednesday, 3 Februray, 2010

Re-opening Soon! Minister of Economic Affairs appoints The Aruban Resort has all the Dr. Ellen A. Th. Croes-Kuster as High attention of Minister Otmar Oduber.

During an interview with the Aruban press, Mr. Commissioner for Aruba Otmar Oduber the present Minister of Tourism, mentioned that it is too soon to make statements about the The Aruban Resort. However, he indicated that everybody is currently busy attending to this matter. Some days ago, he himself met with the time-share owners for the possibility to take over the Resort and that consequently the management team can re-open the resort. Much work is being done and the Minister said that in the coming days the re-opening of The Aruban Resort could be announced.

The announcement is of great importance as the inventory of hotel rooms available form part of the overall inventory of Aruba’s allotment of rooms. The resort has more than four thousand time-share week owners and there is enormous potential of 80% of the timeshare weeks that are unsold. Unsold inventory means time available to be rented out to non-timeshare visitors.

Minister Oduber expressed that the Government has no role in participating in this particular business, because it is a business between two private companies, but because of the wellbeing of the country, he would still monitor the happenings and also meet with the groups. Every single day, he is attending to the situation of The Aruban Resort.

The Government of Aruba takes a real pleasure in announcing its decision in appointing a very local, talented professional in the position of High Commissioner for Aruba. This position became vacant since the last commissioner’s retirement in 2004. The newly appointed High Commissioner is Dr. Ellen A. Th. Croes-Kuster. She is working since 1977 as a jurist at the Aruba Financial Center.

Minister Michelle Winklaar, Minister of Economic Affairs believes that there is no better person to serve our country Aruba than Aruba’s own people. And with this statement, she added that this is especially true when this person has been working in this field for many years and has gained a lot of experience. She expressed that Dr. Ellen Croes-Kuster is a very intelligent lady, who escalated in position in a short time working in this field. She was second and then first deputy head of the department under which Aruba Financial Center resorts.

Then in 2004, she took official position of replacing Mr. Peter Palmen, the then High Commissioner of the Aruba Financial Center. Mr. Palmen reached his retirement age in 2004, thus Dr. Croes-Kuster has been doing practically the job of a High Commissioner for 6 years already.

PARTICIPACION SETAR ta informa tur cliente cu e ultimo fecha pa paga cobransa di Telefon, Cellular, Internet y Cable ta Dialuna 8 di februari 2010

Nos kier recorda nos clientenan cu ta paga cobransa di telefon, celular y Internet online pa nota e number di cuenta pa por procesa e pago debidamente. E number di cuenta ta consisti di 16 cifra y ta aparece na e barcode mas abou riba e cobransa.

Orario di Teleshopnan ta: Teleshop Seroe Blanco di dialuna pa diabierna di 07:45 am – 4:00 pm Teleshopnan di Santa Cruz, San Nicolas, Palm Beach y Irausquinplein dialuna pa diasabra di 9:00 am – 5:30 pm Pa informacion tocante telefon, cellular of internet por yama 114 of 139 of pasa libremente na cualke di nos Teleshopnan.

Orario Oficina di Cable: di dialuna pa diabierna di 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Por paga e cobransa di servicio di cable na nos oficina na Caya Betico Croes 200, na Teleshop San Nicolaas y tambe online.

Clientenan cu ta paga online corda nota e number di cuenta cu ta consisti di 6 cifra cu ta aparece riba e cobransa.

Pa informacion tocante di servicio di Cable por yama 583 7000.

Minister Winklaar sends her best wishes of success to Dr. Ellen Croes-Kuster at undertaking the job officially. The appointment comes at a moment when Aruba would need to meet big challenges in this field. The experience and cooperation of our own people is needed to achieve the goals that are set for our country.

The more - the better!

This week, Minister Otmar Oduber is meeting with “actors” in the tourism industry Minister Otmar Oduber, informs that this week, he will start a process where he will meet to listen to all partners of Aruba. He means herewith all hotel employees, management and also management of banks that are in the position to finance various projects.

The intentions of all these meetings are to get feedback to enable Cabinet Mike Eman I to announce their vision for the next four years and to how to reach its goals.

In accordance with preparations for all this, he met last week with the Tourism Council, and they discussed the means of presenting the vision to everybody on the island of Aruba, meaning all industries representatives, all partners, all those doing business with Aruba and naturally everybody that lives on the island.

This action is geared towards informing each partner, the direction that the Government is taking to choose a vision and mission for our tourism industry.

Minister Oduber further informed that in recent years, these types of meetings were no longer held, and that decisions were taken behind closed doors. His way of managing tourism is the one where he wants as many people involved.

By involving many people, it creates the opportunity for alarm. When things are not going well, the alarm can be activated by those involved. Negative consequences can be avoided in the end. Better results are achieved when there is involvement of as many people as possible.

Wednesday, 3 Februray, 2010 The Aruba Times

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The “Sol Melia’ hotel group no longer interested in the Bushiri Project The Project Documentation is pointing out to “strange events” Minister of Tourism, Mr. Otmar Oduber recent comments about the situation concerning Bushiri Hotel. He just got in his hands quite some documentation that deals with the project. He says that many “strange things” happened. He feels that it is little premature to make more statements about this topic taking these strange events.

What he did inform however was that at the beginning of December 2009, his

ministry has sent out a letter to Trusam group, which is the group that the previous government dealt with in reference to the Bushiri project. By means of that letter, whatever relationship that existed has been cancelled.

This decision was following the noncompliance of the three conditions mentioned in the agreement. The group did not comply with transferring the amount of 10 million dollars for the

Unbelievable

Aruba has 334 tour busses!

Otmar Oduber, Minister in charge with transport informed in a press conference that he decided to put a moratorium on taxi licenses after having evaluated the various reports on this matter. The moratorium, which was officially announced in all newspapers since last Saturday, lasts two years. Together with DOPV, the last report of 2003, will be actualized and a then a decision in the necessary management of public transport licenses.

The only exception is made for Arubus. Talking to Arubus, the government reduced the subsidy of 6 to 4 million Aruban florins and this will drive Arubus into becoming more creative with the use of their buses. Minister Otmar Oduber also showed that during the last years, there was big licentiousness in transportation. He pointed out with examples of tour bus permits that were issued and that on a small island like Aruba, there is no less than 334 licenses for tour busses, of which 70% of these were issued in the last years.

This number of permits does not benefit the tourism sector and there is no research is required for the minister to draw this conclusion. Similar situations exist with other type of public transportation licenses. In other words the supply is larger than the demand. For what concerns the permits for rental cars (marked as V-Cars), a last report deals with a maximum of 4500 cars.

This decision bears the government’s approval and no more permits are to be issued. As for taxi permits, this number of licenses will remain at 400, and each license is subjected to rules. However, after evaluating the various reports, it has been decided to put a moratorium on the taxi permits. As mentioned before, the Moratorium has been officially published in all local newspapers on Saturday and will remain valid for two years.

Aruban Government for the purchase of the building. Also, the group did not comply with another condition of paying 2.5 million dollars in performance bonds and neither did they take the option they received for the lots of land whereby payments had to be effected.

Minister Oduber informed that the Government received back a letter from the Trusam group that intended to operate the hotel for the Sol Melia hotel group.

In the letter they notified the Government that they are no longer interested to execute the project. Meanwhile, the Government made a decision to have a grace period of 60 days. The 60 days are over by the end of January, and at that time, the Government will switch over to plan B for what concerns the future of Bushiri hotel. The Sol Melia likewise informed that they are not interested in the project.

The Aruba Police’s action with homeless addicts

The Police Department in the Center of Oranjestad received a call this past Sunday in regards to homeless addicts Amaya and Calixte.

The incoming call was around 1 o’clock in the afternoon and the informant said that both homeless individuals were walking naked in Hendrikstraat at the surroundings of Kentucky, a fast food restaurant.

Woman finds drug on the street This past Sunday around 7 p.m., the police was called to meet in front of a supermarket in Tanki Leendert. At place, a lady told the police that she found a bag with drugs.

Police officials immediately rushed to the place and they only came across Amaya, who told the officials that he did not walked naked, but that Calixta was the one that walked around naked. He was told to leave the place and the police continued their search for Calixte but did not find him.

The lady handed the officials the bag containing five drug pallets. Police took the drugs and turned them in to the department of narcotics.

Drunken driver in wrong direction of road On the early evening of Sunday, the Police Department in a traffic control saw a car getting in a forbidden road. It was around 7 p.m. and

he was stopped and the drives was quite drunk.

They tested him for alcohol at side and he had 800 u-gl and he remained in custody.

Police was called for a couple in Noord A discussion for the sale of a house escalated in a big problem for a couple living in Noord.

Police came to the house, where the woman N.v.d.L. born in Colombia, 32, told the Police Officials that the man A.L.M. born in the United States of America also 32, father of her child had thrown her baby on the bed. She told the police that due to that action, the child got sick and needed to be admitted in the hospital.

She wanted to file a complaint against the father with the police. Around 5.50 p.m., the father A.L.M. approached the police department in Noord with the issue that when he went by the hospital to see his child, the security guard at the hospital did not permit him to do so, because of an existing complaint against him.

He told the police that the day before, on Saturday, he has had discussions with the mother

of the child and the discussion got out of hands.

The problem escalated at the point where the woman wants to sell the house, but as the house belongs to him, he does not want to sell it. While the discussion continued, the woman took a knife and cameo n to him with the knife.

He was carrying the baby in his arms and to defend himself he put the baby on the bed. As per A.L.M. the child has been sick already for a few days.

Police officers noticed that the man had a little wound in the middle of his eyebrows. The officers gave him permission to visit his child, but that he was told adhere to the rules. A.L.M. informed the police that he will file a complaint against the woman.

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The Aruba Times

Wednesday, 3 Februray, 2010

Important interview with Prime Minister Mike Eman in Dutch paper draws attention to positive governance The presence of Aruba’s Prime Minister Mike Eman in Holland is drawing positive attention every where . During a very short stay he managed to reach many positive and important things for his island.

In view of this, a daily Dutch newspaper approached Dr. Mike Eman for an interview. “Het Financieel Dagblad”, which translated means the Daily Financial Paper is a very influencial media in Holland. It is necessary to remark that it is not easy for a government official who holds office for only two months to get the attention of such influencial newspaper. Prime Minister Mike Eman is living up to the many promises made during last year’s political campaign. His party campaigned strongly during the last year and many of the promises are

met with in a very rapid way and with capable efforts. His Cabinet is drawing all the attention of the Dutch financial watchers.

The edition of “Het Financieel Dagblad” was published last week Friday. The interview with Prime Minister Eman was performed by journalist Vasco van der Boom. We are illustrating parts of the interview for all interesting to read it.

The first part is focussing in extent on the return of KLM to Aruba and also on the new government of Aruba.It is quoted from Eman’s explanation in the interview: “Aruba does not want to be a tax paradise. However we want to be a door to Dutch commerce and industry for Latin America” Journalist Vasco van der Boom has writ-

ten in his article that Prime Minister Eman of Aruba is on a flash visit in Holland. Eman’s Cristian Democrat Party won with an absolute majority of votes the September 25th elections and is now doing its best to change the course of matters after 8 years of governance by the Middle Leftist MEP party. Quoted from Eman’s saying: “I do not have much time in government yet, but the first results are already visible” The article continued saying that Mike Eman is visiting Holland in regards to the re-opening of flights into Aruba by Air France/KLM. One year ago, the previous government has had so many problems with KLM that the latter decided to stop all flights into Aruba. Quoted from Eman’s own words: “Monday, February 1st, I am flying back to Aruba with the

new flight of KLM. There is so much interest for this flight, that the Secretary for the Council of Ministers, Mrs. Nicole Hoevertsz, is not able to travel back to Aruba on this flight”.

As per Mike Eman, to be able to reactivate the flights, they have had very intensive conversations with Minister Eurlings and with the KLM Management. Aruba had to make a promise to KLM and Eman’s said that: “From our part we will increase investments in the product Aruba in order to make it more attractive for the business class passengers” Eman explained that in this form, Aruba will be able to attract tourists that are economically stronger. For Aruba to be in a better position, the AVP Government is renovating the center of the city.

Once again Aruba’s Parliament Member, Mrs. Marisol Lopez Tromp with a case against Jossy Mansur and Diario On Monday, once more, a case was handled in Court against Jossy Mansur and Diario. The plaintiff her is Mrs., Marisol Lopez-Tromp. Attorney-at Law, Mr. Blaauw finds that Mr. Jossy Mansur and Diario did not comply with the last agreement made in court recently and finds that the Court has to order Mr. Mansur to comply with the sentence and to stipulate a fine.

The attorney referred to what Jossy Mansur published in his newspaper on January 12th, where again he accuses Mrs. Marisol Lopez Tromp for corruption. Mrs. Lopez Tromp held the position of Minister in the MEP government that ended its governance in September 2009. Blaauw said that he does not want to go back in repetition of what happened in the case of January 7th, where the Judge ruled against Diario. Diario was not able to present prove of corruption against his client.

He also requested also to prohibit Diario to continue

publishing articles like that. Attorney Dello Gomez represent Diario and finds that the demand by Blaauw had to be dismissed, because Diario did present prove of corruption.

Dr. Gomez spoke about Maurice Neme and the famous bridge of “Madushi” in Noord. He also pointed out to the one million florins that Mrs. Marisol Lopez Tromp received as a loan from an off-shore company based in the Netherland Antilles, at the time she was a Minister.

Attorney-at-Law, Dello Gomez finds that Diario’s duty is to publish things that are not good. He also pointed out that Holland is soon starting an investigation into the previous Government.

Taking this into consideration all this, Diario concluded that indeed things are not good and thereby published on Janaury 12th , 2010 on its front page for what the

accusation stands for. Gomez told the Judge that Diario cannot be denied its right to publish as such. Attorney Blaauw once more pointed out like being the case on January 7th, 2010, that the matter of Madushi’s bridge does not correspond to the truth and the loan in question belongs to the off-shore company of his client’s spouse.

He also told the Judge that in Holland a recent case showed that if the press has proof, it should go to the District Attorney’s Office and to abstain from publishing articles that harm his client. The Judge said that the fact is that there are agreements made in court about the publications, does not mean that Diario can again accuse the ex Minister Lopez Tromp of corruption without having any new proof of this. The Judge will study the case and on February 17th the court will dictate the sentence.