The FBI wasn't allowed to help, Aruban police are a joke, residents of the island have helped because Beth begged them, Coast Guard were begged to get involved, the private search organizations just arrived after Paul Reynolds (Beth's brother) contacted them. That's how I can say that.
If Beth and her family and friends hadn't gotten there and started investigating on their own they would have ignored her. All they want is for Natalee's family to go away so they can get on with their "happy lives".