Natalee Case Discussion #827 12/9/09 - 1/28/10

[texasmom]

 

Curacao

http://www.antilliaansdagblad.com/images/stories/adnews/december/31-12-09/P03.pdf

Google translation:

Sexual abuse punished less

From one of our reporters

Willemstad - On appeal is the punishment of business leader Campo Alegre Robert de Groot
(65), with one years reduced to four years. His Colombian J.G.d.O friend got one years less cell.

Initially six years and was required in first construction imposed five years. The reduction
despite the fact that the court was not sensitive to the arguments of the defense.

The lawyer wanted De Groot The prosecutor did not admissible for use of film material webscam where a nine year old daughter of J.G.d.O. via Skype lascivious acts had to commit. The intercepted talks, according to defense evidence as unfairly used. Further would ask the defense the Criminal Intelligence Department (CID) inadequate answered.

The Court came after the treatment on December 8 to believes that the girl was abused
by both the husband and mother. Nor have both denies the abuse. Both suspects were already in November 2008 arrested.

The case came to the roles when the phone De Groot was tapped in connection with a money laundering case. It was the lust to light. The woman was in first instance and now also in an appeal as severe punishment as De Groot because she protected her daughter against sexual advances of De Groot. They showed her daughter stay with him and cared not for her physical and mental condition.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:8P38zM2gtVEJ:www.persbureaucuracao.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D572:paradise-fm-nieuws-van-donderdag-23-april%26catid%3D49:paradise-fm-nieuws%26Itemid%3D21+Campo+Alegre+%22Robert+de+Groot%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Google translation:

Paradise FM Nieuws van donderdag 23 april
donderdag, 23 april 2009 11:54 | Bron: Bron: Paradise FM

Manager Campo hear six years to her demands

The Dutch manager of Campo Alegre, Robert de Groot, and his Colombian girlfriend JGdO both have six years to her demands heard by the Public Prosecutor. Both are suspected of sex with minors. De Groot was caught with a hidden camera, when he was kept in the eye because a money laundering case. He had sex with nine year old daughter of his girlfriend, while she is suspected of sex with a 13-year-old boy. When De Groot was arrested on child justice took his computer. That would give him even a trial in the Netherlands can provide.

[Keepthefaith]

It's unbelievable apparent,from the continued newsposts from TM,that this place is a SEXUAL DEVIANTS paradise....

[texasmom]

http://tinyurl.com/campoalegre

Curacao's X-Rated Resort

Story and photos by Si Liberman

Edited by Kim Rahilly

Curacao brochures and press releases trumpet the Caribbean island's location outside the hurricane belt, its 30 beaches, modern hotels, year-round 80-degree temperatures, ethnic and cultural diversity, quaint pastel downtown buildings and proximity to Venezuela.



Spanish-English sign at the entrance to Campo Alegre in Curacao spells out who can enter and some of the rules

What they don't tell you about is the hush-hush Campo Alegre Resort, which is one of the world's largest brothels. Think Amsterdam and its swinging, legal red-light district, and you'll get the picture of this Dutch island's little secret.

Ask any crew member on the hundreds of ships that annually drop anchor in Curacao as to where his colleagues go to relax and unwind, and the privately-owned Campo Alegre (Spanish for “Camp Happiness”) will be the answer you're likely to get.

For more than 50 years, it has been a legally operated sexual oasis for wandering males and adventuresome tourists.

“Open 24 hours. Unbelievable selection of ladies, restaurant, casino, bar… government inspected,” reads an Internet website (www.crewdiscount.com), targeting cruise, airline and yacht crews.

It's a five-minute drive from the Hato International Airport, or 20 minutes from downtown Willemstad, the Netherlands' Antilles capital and commercial center.

Having disembarked from the Crystal Harmony cruise ship -- and adventurous, curiosity-seekers that we are -- my wife Dorothy and I were impressed by the jovial, beefy and seemingly knowledgeable taxi-van driver who said he's taken many a “john” there and offered us a close-up look.

You know you've arrived when a huge, green clover-leaf sign with the words, “Campo Alegre” pokes out from a seemingly desolate area off the main road. Outside the entrance, there's another welcoming sign in English and Spanish:

“For Pleasure Only.” Listed below that are some caveats, “18 Years Up,” “No Weapon” and “Parking at Your Own Risk.”

Aside from two trucks and another van, the unpaved, rock-strewn parking lot fronting the complex was empty. Two tough-looking, uniformed security men stopped us as we entered. They demanded that I put away my camera. Journalist or not, I was told, picture taking is verboten.

A request to interview the manager was denied. “She's on the phone, a long-distance call, and won't be able to talk to you today,” said the summoned security chief in perfect English.

As observers, not patrons, we opted not to pay an entrance fee -- $5 for males, $14 for females -- after learning we'd be watched by a security detail and that we wouldn't be free to talk to anyone or take pictures on the 25-acre site.

Why the admission difference? The question brought no answer – only a security officer's shrug. But Kara Barbakoff, a Florida-based public relations representative from Curacao's Department of Tourism who maintains she's not very familiar with the operation, offered this explanation:

“It's a gentleman's club, I guess, and the idea is that the guys need a place to hang out without women being around. It would get confusing if guys started hitting on women who were, in fact, customers of the bar rather than working there.”

She had been told, she said, that 10-20 percent of the brothel's patrons are tourists, depending on the season. We observed three casually dressed young men readily paying the fees after which, each was subjected to a patting down by one of the security men.

Our 42-year-old married driver, Manuel Cathalina (“everyone calls me, ‘Mingo'”), appeared to know considerably more about the resort than the PR rep:

There were 157 female prostitutes, one of the security men told him. We spotted several in tight slacks, jeans and colorful blouses walking and chatting among themselves on the grounds, which were deserted on that December morning. They looked to be in their 20s and 30s.

The place doesn't come alive until after 10:30 pm, Mingo said, when female performers take to a platform stage and begin pole-dancing and strip-tease routines. At a thatched-roof bar, large TV screens flash erotic scenes near a couple dozen slot machines and a billiard table.

Prices are usually negotiable, according to our driver, and they run anywhere from $30 to $200 or more, depending on the time and nature of the sexual services requested.

Most of the prostitutes come from Columbia and the Dominican Republic with three-month visas and legal work permits. They reside and do their thing in 40 brightly-colored, reconditioned World War II-era military barracks.

The yellow, orange, and red one-story cinderblock structures are arranged to accommodate up to 300 sex workers. Each single-story building has four-to-eight rooms. Some have miniature flower gardens outside and all have opaque curtains inside.

“The girls are supposed to be 21-to-23-years-old,” said Mingo, “but some I've seen look younger and probably lied about their age.”

They are required to undergo frequent physical examinations by a government health-department physician, he said. To help ensure against AIDS and other diseases, the prostitutes, acting as independent contractors, are expected to provide their “johns” with free condoms and insist that they be used.

“Tuesday night is ladies' night here,” Mingo said with a straight face. “The ladies can establish relationships and use all the facilities (the restaurant, the casino, the bar). “No, Campo Alegre doesn't have male prostitutes.”

As we prepared to pull out of the parking lot, we noticed the arrival of a couple more vehicles. From the road, I snapped a picture of the resort with the sea as a backdrop before heading back to Willemstad where we toured one of Curacao's historic landmarks, the Mikve-Israel Emanuel Synagogue with its sand-covered floor. It's the oldest continuously operated synagogue in the Western Hemisphere.

But that's another story.

© Story and photos by Si Liberman, 2009

[Keepthefaith]

Most of the prostitutes come from Columbia and the Dominican Republic with three-month visas and legal work permits. They reside and do their thing in 40 brightly-colored, reconditioned World War II-era military barracks.


Who really thinks they come willingly,and go willingly??

Are you trying to inflict intentional emotional distress on me TM...

[texasmom]

It's unbelievable apparent,from the continued newsposts from TM,that this place is a SEXUAL DEVIANTS paradise....

Yes it is, KTF.  Think about it.  This man managed one of the WORLD'S largest brothels.
It's not like he didn't have his choice of a wide variety of girls to have sex with.
But he chose to have sex with the nine year old daughter of his girlfriend?
NINE YEARS OLD!   
It makes me sick to think what else that pervert has done, or maybe (PROBABLY IMO) even offered to some "special customers" for a "special price".

And if I understand correctly his sentence has been reduced to four years.

 

 

[texasmom]

Most of the prostitutes come from Columbia and the Dominican Republic with three-month visas and legal work permits. They reside and do their thing in 40 brightly-colored, reconditioned World War II-era military barracks.


Who really thinks they come willingly,and go willingly??

Are you trying to inflict intentional emotional distress on me TM...

EXACTLY KTF!

And who knows what they've got hidden in secret rooms on that 25 acres!

Are you trying to inflict intentional emotional distress on me TM...

My blood pressure is off the charts right now KTF!
I knew when I read that article that I'd heard of Camp Alegre before but couldn't remember much about it.  I was already mad, and then when I started refreshing my memory...(I posted the "clean" article here  ) I got madder by the minute!

[texasmom]

   This just doesn't seem right IMO!

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66861.php

Victims of cargo ship buried on Curaçao

29 Dec, 2009, 07:47 (GMT -04:00)

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Miami Diver had assisted with the bringing the victims ashore yesterday. The bodies of the nine crewmembers had been severely mutilated by burns and the process of decomposition. For that reason, they had been buried immediately.

WILLEMSTAD — The bodies of the nine victims of the Greek cargo ship Aegean Wind had been in such a bad state of decomposition upon arrival in the harbor of Boca Sami that it was decided not to transport them to their native countries. The decision was made to bury the three Greek and six Philippine crewmembers here on the island.

A raging fire had occurred after an explosion in or near the dining room on the ship last week Friday. The incident had happened westerly from Isla de Margarita en route from Brazil to Houston. The Greek ship owner had decided to have the ship towed to Curaçao.

The Aegean Wind with its cargo of steel is still moored at Boca Sami in expectation of continuing its journey to Texas, by means of a tugboat, for which Kompania di Tou Kòrsou had also submitted a quotation. It was not clear yet this morning who had received the order. The cargo ship had incurred substantial damage by the fire, amongst others to the engine and the steering mechanism. However, the ship disposes of an operational generator and therefore electricity.

The Venezuelan Coastguard had also brought five casualties from the incident ashore. The remaining ten crewmembers had went ashore yesterday for checkup.

[texasmom]

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66802.php

Government to revise WasteAway-project

28 Dec, 2009, 07:26 (GMT -04:00)

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ORANJESTAD — Minister of Infrastructure, Environment and Integration, Benny Sevinger (AVP) wants to revise the so-called WasteAway-plant in Parkietenbos. According to the Minister, the contract signed with manufacturer Bouldin & Lawson, states that Aruba may evaluate whether the technology of the waste processing plant is operating well and if the fluff is not detrimental for the environment. Aruba is using such a large-scaled facility for the first time.

“This evaluation will take place during the first week of January”, says Sevinger. According to the Minister, there is already a processing problem with the end product of the waste disposal, the so-called fluff. “The fluff was to be buried in a number of places on the island, but this was not done. We must consider whether this system is actually the best we could have chosen and if we should continue with such.”   
Sevinger currently has contacts with Dutch experts who will come up with recommendations on the future of the dump- and waste disposal on the island.

Fluff
Amigoe had heard from a spokesperson of Serlimar last October that a discussion would take place with the new government. Apparently, nothing had been done with the material in the meantime. Meanwhile, a team had experimented if and how they could produce fertilizer from the fluff. In addition, a group of American investors is supposedly interested in producing fuel from the fluff and selling this to Aruba. Jonathan Tromp, manager of the WasteAway-plant had announced at the time to have every hope for the continuance of the project. “I hope that the government will continue to finance this project, otherwise we will have to find a way to continue it.” In that, Tromp had stated that a cooperation with Ecotech would be a perfect combination.

Controversial
Right from the beginning, the WasteAway-project in Parkietenbos, had been plagued by polemics, delays and court cases. The contracting of the project to Bouldin & Lawson is controversial as well. AVP, opposition party at the time, had considered it very singular that Bouldin & Lawson had won the bid, as they had turned out at the bottom during the tender procedure for the project. Bouldin & Lawson had constructed three WasteAway-plants in Parkietenbos worth 28 million florins. Bouldin & Lawson had prematurely thrown out subcontractor Icon out of the project during construction. That had led to a number of court cases amounting to millions, causing serious delays for the project. The waste disposal plant in Parkietenbos had become officially operational at the end of last July. At that time, one had tentatively spoken of possible expansion of the project in the long term.

[texasmom]

  This just doesn't seem right IMO!

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66861.php

Victims of cargo ship buried on Curaçao

29 Dec, 2009, 07:47 (GMT -04:00)

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Miami Diver had assisted with the bringing the victims ashore yesterday. The bodies of the nine crewmembers had been severely mutilated by burns and the process of decomposition. For that reason, they had been buried immediately.

WILLEMSTAD — The bodies of the nine victims of the Greek cargo ship Aegean Wind had been in such a bad state of decomposition upon arrival in the harbor of Boca Sami that it was decided not to transport them to their native countries. The decision was made to bury the three Greek and six Philippine crewmembers here on the island.

A raging fire had occurred after an explosion in or near the dining room on the ship last week Friday. The incident had happened westerly from Isla de Margarita en route from Brazil to Houston. The Greek ship owner had decided to have the ship towed to Curaçao.

The Aegean Wind with its cargo of steel is still moored at Boca Sami in expectation of continuing its journey to Texas, by means of a tugboat, for which Kompania di Tou Kòrsou had also submitted a quotation. It was not clear yet this morning who had received the order. The cargo ship had incurred substantial damage by the fire, amongst others to the engine and the steering mechanism. However, the ship disposes of an operational generator and therefore electricity.

The Venezuelan Coastguard had also brought five casualties from the incident ashore. The remaining ten crewmembers had went ashore yesterday for checkup.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66800.php

Disaster ship at Boca

28 Dec, 2009, 07:24 (GMT -04:00)

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The tugboats of Kompania di Tou Kòrsou (KTK) had been very busy mooring the Aegean Wind at Boca Sami this morning.

WILLEMSTAD — The Greek disaster ship Aegean Wind had moored at Boca Sami this morning. The bodies of the nine crewmembers that had died during an explosion and fire on Christmas Day had been taken ashore for transport to the country of origin.

Besides the nine casualties, five crewmembers – including a female apprentice officer – had suffered slight injuries. They had been transported to Isla de Margarita for medical treatment after the disaster.

The fire had occurred on Christmas Day when the ship had been sailing approx. 90 miles north of the Venezuelan coast past the deserted island Blanquilla. The Venezuelan Coastguard had boarded the ship and had found six casualties. Three other persons had been missing for quite a while, but had been found by the rescue party on Saturday evening. The cause of the fire is still unclear. The fire had started in the dining area and had spread over the ship as quick as lightning. Three of the victims had been from Greece and six from the Philippine Islands.

The ship had been en route from Salvador, Brazil to the seaport Houston in Texas with a load of steel. The ship, with its 24 crewmembers, belongs to the Greek ship owning company Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd. A Coastguard officer from Greece was supposedly en route to Curaçao to bring the seamen back to their native country.

The ocean tugboat London had towed the 185 meter long cargo ship to Curaçao. The KTK-tugboats Lima 2, Jaro 2 and Malena had assisted with the mooring at Boca this morning. There is a good chance that the tugboat Lima 2 will tow the Aegean Wind to Houston.

[Blonde]

I can't believe I am saying this again .... 

May 2010 bring Justice for Natalee and peace to her family and friends

Happy New Year to each and every one of you who will never give up!

I know    

[texasmom]

I'm not sure if this was posted or not, sorry if it's a repeat!

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66706.php

KLM to resume flights to Aruba as of February

22 Dec, 2009, 07:32 (GMT -04:00)

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ORANJESTAD — Airline company KLM will be flying to Aruba again. Premier Mike Eman (AVP) announced this yesterday. “As of February, the airline company will be flying to Aruba twice a week”, Eman states. According to him, KLM-executive Peter Hartman confirmed this.

Minister Otmar Oduber (AVP), of Tourism, Transport and Labor, states that no special commitments had made to convince KLM to starting flying to Aruba again. “The only guarantee-issue amounted to all airline companies receiving equal treatment, as it should be.” Eman hopes that the number of flights will be expanded during the course of next year. “We have an additional budget for tourism from the Netherlands and Europe. We believe that this will lead to more demand and therefore more flights.” On being asked, Minister Oduber commented towards the Amigoe that only in the Netherlands, it already regards a redoubling of the current marketing budget, some 2.4 million euros.

The merging of airline company Air France with KLM in 2003 led to it becoming the largest airline company in the world with regard to turnover. After more than 70 years, KLM decided to discontinue their regular service Amsterdam-Aruba at the beginning of this year. At the time, the airline company had indicated that it incurred loss on the regular service due to a combination of factors. Former KLM-regional manager Wim Iserief had stated at the time, that the Dutch air tax, the economical crisis and the higher costs at Reina Beatrix airport had been important factors to discontinue the flights from Amsterdam to Aruba. Furthermore, the seat occupancy of the aircrafts had not been satisfactory and had been higher on Curaçao. The last KLM-flight had been on March 29th of this year. Daughter Company Martinair had subsequently increased their number of flights to ‘fill the gap’.

One of the reasons indicated by the KLM to discontinue their flights to Aruba had been the ticket taxation. The latter had been discontinued in the meantime. The Netherlands had decided in July 2008 to introduce the aircraft tax, the so-called ticket tax or flight tax. Passengers traveling to destinations further than 2500 kilometers from the Netherlands had had to pay an additional tax of 45 euros on top of their ticket. Dutch airports (especially Schiphol) and traveling organizations had strongly opposed the flight tax. The latter had been abolished a year later, on July 1st, 2009.

[Tibrogargan]

  This just doesn't seem right IMO!

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66861.php

Victims of cargo ship buried on Curaçao

29 Dec, 2009, 07:47 (GMT -04:00)

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Miami Diver had assisted with the bringing the victims ashore yesterday. The bodies of the nine crewmembers had been severely mutilated by burns and the process of decomposition. For that reason, they had been buried immediately.

WILLEMSTAD — The bodies of the nine victims of the Greek cargo ship Aegean Wind had been in such a bad state of decomposition upon arrival in the harbor of Boca Sami that it was decided not to transport them to their native countries. The decision was made to bury the three Greek and six Philippine crewmembers here on the island.

A raging fire had occurred after an explosion in or near the dining room on the ship last week Friday. The incident had happened westerly from Isla de Margarita en route from Brazil to Houston. The Greek ship owner had decided to have the ship towed to Curaçao.

The Aegean Wind with its cargo of steel is still moored at Boca Sami in expectation of continuing its journey to Texas, by means of a tugboat, for which Kompania di Tou Kòrsou had also submitted a quotation. It was not clear yet this morning who had received the order. The cargo ship had incurred substantial damage by the fire, amongst others to the engine and the steering mechanism. However, the ship disposes of an operational generator and therefore electricity.

The Venezuelan Coastguard had also brought five casualties from the incident ashore. The remaining ten crewmembers had went ashore yesterday for checkup.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66800.php

Disaster ship at Boca

28 Dec, 2009, 07:24 (GMT -04:00)

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The tugboats of Kompania di Tou Kòrsou (KTK) had been very busy mooring the Aegean Wind at Boca Sami this morning.

WILLEMSTAD — The Greek disaster ship Aegean Wind had moored at Boca Sami this morning. The bodies of the nine crewmembers that had died during an explosion and fire on Christmas Day had been taken ashore for transport to the country of origin.

Besides the nine casualties, five crewmembers – including a female apprentice officer – had suffered slight injuries. They had been transported to Isla de Margarita for medical treatment after the disaster.

The fire had occurred on Christmas Day when the ship had been sailing approx. 90 miles north of the Venezuelan coast past the deserted island Blanquilla. The Venezuelan Coastguard had boarded the ship and had found six casualties. Three other persons had been missing for quite a while, but had been found by the rescue party on Saturday evening. The cause of the fire is still unclear. The fire had started in the dining area and had spread over the ship as quick as lightning. Three of the victims had been from Greece and six from the Philippine Islands.

The ship had been en route from Salvador, Brazil to the seaport Houston in Texas with a load of steel. The ship, with its 24 crewmembers, belongs to the Greek ship owning company Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd. A Coastguard officer from Greece was supposedly en route to Curaçao to bring the seamen back to their native country.

The ocean tugboat London had towed the 185 meter long cargo ship to Curaçao. The KTK-tugboats Lima 2, Jaro 2 and Malena had assisted with the mooring at Boca this morning. There is a good chance that the tugboat Lima 2 will tow the Aegean Wind to Houston.

They could have cremated the bodies and returned their ashes to their native countries.  I am sure they have loved ones at home who would have preferred to have something rather than knowing they will always be so far away.

[billb's daughter]

This is so sad...but it is a theme seen over and over again.....
They only think of themselves...never the victims or their families...
The easiest path is the culture....

[billb's daughter]

  This just doesn't seem right IMO!

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66861.php

Victims of cargo ship buried on Curaçao

29 Dec, 2009, 07:47 (GMT -04:00)

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Miami Diver had assisted with the bringing the victims ashore yesterday. The bodies of the nine crewmembers had been severely mutilated by burns and the process of decomposition. For that reason, they had been buried immediately.

WILLEMSTAD — The bodies of the nine victims of the Greek cargo ship Aegean Wind had been in such a bad state of decomposition upon arrival in the harbor of Boca Sami that it was decided not to transport them to their native countries. The decision was made to bury the three Greek and six Philippine crewmembers here on the island.

A raging fire had occurred after an explosion in or near the dining room on the ship last week Friday. The incident had happened westerly from Isla de Margarita en route from Brazil to Houston. The Greek ship owner had decided to have the ship towed to Curaçao.

The Aegean Wind with its cargo of steel is still moored at Boca Sami in expectation of continuing its journey to Texas, by means of a tugboat, for which Kompania di Tou Kòrsou had also submitted a quotation. It was not clear yet this morning who had received the order. The cargo ship had incurred substantial damage by the fire, amongst others to the engine and the steering mechanism. However, the ship disposes of an operational generator and therefore electricity.

The Venezuelan Coastguard had also brought five casualties from the incident ashore. The remaining ten crewmembers had went ashore yesterday for checkup.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66800.php

Disaster ship at Boca

28 Dec, 2009, 07:24 (GMT -04:00)

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The tugboats of Kompania di Tou Kòrsou (KTK) had been very busy mooring the Aegean Wind at Boca Sami this morning.

WILLEMSTAD — The Greek disaster ship Aegean Wind had moored at Boca Sami this morning. The bodies of the nine crewmembers that had died during an explosion and fire on Christmas Day had been taken ashore for transport to the country of origin.

Besides the nine casualties, five crewmembers – including a female apprentice officer – had suffered slight injuries. They had been transported to Isla de Margarita for medical treatment after the disaster.

The fire had occurred on Christmas Day when the ship had been sailing approx. 90 miles north of the Venezuelan coast past the deserted island Blanquilla. The Venezuelan Coastguard had boarded the ship and had found six casualties. Three other persons had been missing for quite a while, but had been found by the rescue party on Saturday evening. The cause of the fire is still unclear. The fire had started in the dining area and had spread over the ship as quick as lightning. Three of the victims had been from Greece and six from the Philippine Islands.

The ship had been en route from Salvador, Brazil to the seaport Houston in Texas with a load of steel. The ship, with its 24 crewmembers, belongs to the Greek ship owning company Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd. A Coastguard officer from Greece was supposedly en route to Curaçao to bring the seamen back to their native country.

The ocean tugboat London had towed the 185 meter long cargo ship to Curaçao. The KTK-tugboats Lima 2, Jaro 2 and Malena had assisted with the mooring at Boca this morning. There is a good chance that the tugboat Lima 2 will tow the Aegean Wind to Houston.

They could have cremated the bodies and returned their ashes to their native countries.  I am sure they have loved ones at home who would have preferred to have something rather than knowing they will always be so far away.

This is so sad...but it is a theme seen over and over again.....
They only think of themselves...never the victims or their families...
The easiest path is the culture.... 

[Magnolia]

Happy New Year

I just heard a little blurb that Beth will be on Birmingham CBS 42's Morning Show on Monday.

I don't know what it is all about, but when I hear more, will let you all know.

[Mere]

Good Evening Night Crew and Happy New Year - 2010 - to all who read here.

I am also one who thought, back in 2005, that Natalee would be found quickly...or that
the police would have the answers within weeks....after all, it is a small island.  Who knew???

TxMom....thanks for the continuing source of news.

[San]

Happy New Year

I just heard a little blurb that Beth will be on Birmingham CBS 42's Morning Show on Monday.

I don't know what it is all about, but when I hear more, will let you all know.

Thanks Magnolia.

[texasmom]

  This just doesn't seem right IMO!

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66861.php

Victims of cargo ship buried on Curaçao

29 Dec, 2009, 07:47 (GMT -04:00)

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Miami Diver had assisted with the bringing the victims ashore yesterday. The bodies of the nine crewmembers had been severely mutilated by burns and the process of decomposition. For that reason, they had been buried immediately.

WILLEMSTAD — The bodies of the nine victims of the Greek cargo ship Aegean Wind had been in such a bad state of decomposition upon arrival in the harbor of Boca Sami that it was decided not to transport them to their native countries. The decision was made to bury the three Greek and six Philippine crewmembers here on the island.

A raging fire had occurred after an explosion in or near the dining room on the ship last week Friday. The incident had happened westerly from Isla de Margarita en route from Brazil to Houston. The Greek ship owner had decided to have the ship towed to Curaçao.

The Aegean Wind with its cargo of steel is still moored at Boca Sami in expectation of continuing its journey to Texas, by means of a tugboat, for which Kompania di Tou Kòrsou had also submitted a quotation. It was not clear yet this morning who had received the order. The cargo ship had incurred substantial damage by the fire, amongst others to the engine and the steering mechanism. However, the ship disposes of an operational generator and therefore electricity.

The Venezuelan Coastguard had also brought five casualties from the incident ashore. The remaining ten crewmembers had went ashore yesterday for checkup.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_66800.php

Disaster ship at Boca

28 Dec, 2009, 07:24 (GMT -04:00)

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The tugboats of Kompania di Tou Kòrsou (KTK) had been very busy mooring the Aegean Wind at Boca Sami this morning.

WILLEMSTAD — The Greek disaster ship Aegean Wind had moored at Boca Sami this morning. The bodies of the nine crewmembers that had died during an explosion and fire on Christmas Day had been taken ashore for transport to the country of origin.

Besides the nine casualties, five crewmembers – including a female apprentice officer – had suffered slight injuries. They had been transported to Isla de Margarita for medical treatment after the disaster.

The fire had occurred on Christmas Day when the ship had been sailing approx. 90 miles north of the Venezuelan coast past the deserted island Blanquilla. The Venezuelan Coastguard had boarded the ship and had found six casualties. Three other persons had been missing for quite a while, but had been found by the rescue party on Saturday evening. The cause of the fire is still unclear. The fire had started in the dining area and had spread over the ship as quick as lightning. Three of the victims had been from Greece and six from the Philippine Islands.

The ship had been en route from Salvador, Brazil to the seaport Houston in Texas with a load of steel. The ship, with its 24 crewmembers, belongs to the Greek ship owning company Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd. A Coastguard officer from Greece was supposedly en route to Curaçao to bring the seamen back to their native country.

The ocean tugboat London had towed the 185 meter long cargo ship to Curaçao. The KTK-tugboats Lima 2, Jaro 2 and Malena had assisted with the mooring at Boca this morning. There is a good chance that the tugboat Lima 2 will tow the Aegean Wind to Houston.

They could have cremated the bodies and returned their ashes to their native countries.  I am sure they have loved ones at home who would have preferred to have something rather than knowing they will always be so far away.

I agree Tibro.  I think the crew members that died and their families deserved better than this.  JMO    

http://www.abcml.com/fleet_uk.htm

18 ships are listed in their fleet.  IMO it would seem that when over 1/3 (9 of 24) of their crew died in a disaster like this on one of their ships, they would have made arrangements to immediately recover the bodies!  The articles I've read indicate that they still don't know what caused the explosion/fire or the exact cause of death of any of the deceased.  Now they'll never know for certain the causes of death.  Will there be an investigation into the cause of the fire?

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/nine-killed-in-cargo-ship-blaze-1989376.html

Nine killed in cargo ship blaze

Friday December 25 2009

A Greek-owned freighter caught fire in the Caribbean off Venezuela's coast on Christmas Day, killing nine crew members and injuring five others, Venezuelan authorities said.

The Aegean Wind was carrying more than 37,000 tons of iron ore from Brazil to Houston when a blaze broke out in the mess hall before dawn on Friday, according to the vessel's owner, Piraeus-based Atlantic Bulk Carrier Management Ltd.

The cargo ship was about 100 miles north of Venezuela at the time, and about 34 miles from Margarita Island.

Venezuelan navy Admiral Carlos Maximo Aniasi Turchio said nine crew members who had been listed as unaccounted for were dead. Six were from the Philippines and the other three were from Greece, he said.

"We don't know if they died from asphyxiation or burns, but the (ship's) commander has confirmed to us that they did die," Aniasi Turchio told Venezuelan state television.

He said five injured crew members were taken by helicopter to Margarita Island and were to be transferred later to a military hospital in the capital, Caracas. One was in "delicate condition" from severe burns, Aniasi Turchio told the state-run Venezolana de Television.

Aniasi Turchio said the fire had been extinguished and 10 crew members, including the captain, were to be evacuated shortly.

Atlantic Bulk Carrier Management spokeswoman Elise Goonen said the crew members were in the mess hall when the fire started.

"We have no news of them yet," Goonen said before Aniasi Turchio announced that the nine were dead.

Rafael Lugo, commander of Venezuela's maritime support and rescue agency, told Telesur news network that the fire began in the engine room and spread to the cabins. It was not immediately possible to reconcile the conflicting information on where the fire broke out, and its cause was not known.

Press Association

http://www.abcml.com/mariners_uk.htm

MARINERS
Without our competent seafarers, no matter how modern our fleet is, we would not be able to reach our goals.  ABCML is committed in providing continuous, high quality training to our mariners.  Most of them start their career with us (as cadet trainees) and grow professionally -through frequent, on board and ashore, training programs.

Our seafarers are the reason why ABCML exists.  Their and their families’ well-being is very important.  As such, ABCML always tries to be close to its people, recognize and fulfill their needs to the extent possible.”

[texasmom]

This is so sad...but it is a theme seen over and over again.....
They only think of themselves...never the victims or their families...
The easiest path is the culture....

Yes it is sad, but true billb!   

[texasmom]

Happy New Year

I just heard a little blurb that Beth will be on Birmingham CBS 42's Morning Show on Monday.

I don't know what it is all about, but when I hear more, will let you all know.

Thanks Magnolia!