Dear Members and friends,
As all of you know by now, Beth Twitty appeared on the syndicated talk show program – Dr.Phil - late yesterday afternoon. In a nutshell, the content of the program and the call to boycott travel to Aruba made by Dr. Phil McGraw in a most inflammatory manner could have very serious consequences. This message is meant to let you know that AHATA and the Strategic Communications Task Force that we have organized are not taking this lightly and action is being taken.
The following entities participated in a two hour meeting and conference call this morning: AHATA, ATA, ATIA, Chamber of Commerce, SDMG group (Communications consultants), Fitzgerald and Company (Aruba’s Advertising Agency), the Alexander Group (a Washington DC lobbying firm), Aruba’s Representative at the Dutch Embassy in Washington, and several other private citizens who are contributing to the Task Force, including Senior Advisor Governor Olindo Koolman and Advisor – Jaap Beaujon.
We discussed a wide range of options and delineated a course of action.
In addition, we held a press conference at noon to explain to the people of Aruba the outrage and dismay we all feel on account of the irresponsible remarks by the show host – Dr.Phil – and to present some of our actions as well as call for continuing calm and prudence. The latter is certainly essential in the manner we respond and react to these unfortunate comments. Myrna Jansen, Managing Director at ATA framed the situation providing a sense of perspective as it relates to our number one market and our visitor industry. I provided a summary of some of the most pressing actions underway and Jeff Lesker, Chairman of AHATA and Serge Mansur – president of ATIA, finished with excellent commentary on the collective frustration we are all suffering, the behind the scenes efforts of the Task Force, as well the need for continuing respect, equanimity and hospitality. These are the hallmarks that have made Aruba what it is today and Arubans such great hosts to millions of visitors.
Some of the actions we are undertaking include:
- issuing a challenge to TV stations that aired the show to provide Aruba “equal time”
- enlisting the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands relative to resources to respond to the challenge at hand
- identifying credible spokespersons to deliver powerful messages that correct these inaccuracies and attacks on our island
- exploring alliances with travel partners
- exploring all legal remedies and options in relation to the irresponsible statements on the program
Arubans should be proud of their exemplary actions and maturity over the past three months of this situation; the outpouring of empathy and support to the missing girl’s family and the enormous efforts to find Natalee and solve this mystery. The ability to maintain that dignity in the face of such outrageous and irresponsible attacks will be the real story that will surface at the end. It will tell the world that this is indeed a civilized, respectful and sophisticated society. A society and a community with a well established judicial system, who respect the rule of law, the institutions, the media and people from all walks of life. Below you will find a great piece written by Steve Cohen of our Consulting team that was posted on arubatruth.com this morning. I recommend you take the time to read it and feel free to send comments directly to that web site.
We also recommend that you express your opinion directly to Dr. Phil on his web site: Dr.Phil.com
Have a great weekend.
DR PHIL GETS IT WRONG ON ARUBA
Dr. Phil McGraw called for a boycott of Aruba on his nationally syndicated program. He presented a one sided view of the case and did not include responses from anyone who could defend Aruba.
His entire program was designed to prove that Aruba was responsible for the inability of the office of the prosecution to charge the three suspects with either kidnapping, rape or murder. No information was allowed in the program that would have refuted any of the charges by Beth Holloway Twitty or the other guests.
It was an example of how a well regarded talk show host can use his power to play at being a journalist and distort a country’s efforts to solve the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Beth believes that from the moment she arrived on the island that a cover-up was underway. However, there is no evidence from her or anyone else that there was an effort to hide evidence, or collude between the Van der Sloot’s and top cop, Van der Stratten. It is clear that any evidence that did exist could have been lost during the time the police pursued security guards and let the other three suspects stay at large.
To date, no physical evidence, no body, no DNA has emerged. Dr. Phil and Beth would have you believe that it does exist and has been suppressed.
The prosecutors have tried repeatedly to present their best case to the judge of instruction. No judge believed there was enough evidence in the end to hold them. They had varying interrogations, including the sex on the beach and drugging of Natalee.
BUT THESE ARE NOT CONFESSIONS AND DO NOT UNDER DUTCH LAW HAVE THE POWER OF A CONFESSION.
This is a case gone wrong. If there is conscious wrongdoing, it has not revealed itself. It was, in fact, in everyone’s interest to find out what happened and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The family has not shown anyone evidence that shows corruption, or collusion; even though, their case for incompetence is well known.
WHY A BOYCOTT IS MISGUIDED
All of the activity of the family has yielded precisely the result no one wanted, the release of the suspects. The onslaught of media, the private investigators, the reward money, the searchers, all failed to alter the course of the investigation or produce concrete evidence. In fact, the crush of media and freelance investigators only served to confuse matters. The family rushes to a site of a search, suspects are confronted at home…it all suggested momentum in the case. Unfortunately, there was none. Throughout this period of activity very little new information was gathered that could aid investigators in the case.
WHY A BOYCOTT WILL NOT CHANGE THE RESULTS AND ONLY NEW EVIDENCE WILL
Governments that have a separation of powers like the United States and Aruba attempt to protect the judiciary from the force of public opinion or other influences. When the results are abhorrent to the public, changes usually come from a change in leadership, legislation or a process of judicial review.
When OJ Simpson was tried for murder, prosecutors had the bodies, blood, DNA evidence, a prime suspect and the American media behind them. Still, they could not carry the case. No amount of public pressure could alter the result. In the end, it was the quality of the evidence, its presentation and a jury who had the final word.
No one asked for the mayor’s ouster. There were no boycotts of Los Angeles. And the Goldman family found justice in a civil case.
In our system the Kalpoes and Joran would have been charged and tried. But the result would have been very uncertain.
Public pressure rarely changes the course of the judiciary in an open system. The Dutch system is opaque. No jury and the judge must weigh all evidence BEFORE a trial rather than during a trial. It is an exacting and, for Americans, exasperating system.
Still the economic burden of a boycott will only serve to hurt thousands of Arubans who have done nothing wrong. And will have no influence on the courts. Most of these people supported Beth and the family and still do. They want the same result - justice for the family.
THE TRUTH IS:
The case was flawed. It was difficult to make after what appears to be errors in pursuing evidence quickly. But, with varying stories, and no confession or body, they were stymied.
You can blame the system. You can blame the prosecutor and the judge. But you cannot claim that there was corruption or collusion. And you cannot ask for the “government” to intervene, anymore than President Bush would tell a federal judge to get a conviction on a case “or else.”
There is an injustice here that hopefully will be righted over time. But asking for a boycott will solve nothing, only evidence will.
Dr. Phil spoke from his heart, as has Beth. Aruba supports all efforts to get to the truth, but choking the country while we all search for answers, seems counterproductive.
posted by Strategic Communications Task Force at
