HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 104 Draft 01 1992-1994COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION N0.~1~ 93
RESOLUTION DECLARING COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF THE HAWAII BANANA
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County General Plan and the County
Agricultural Development Plan advocate a prominent role for the
future of the Big Island's emerging diversified agricultural
industry; and
WHEREAS, with the imminent demise of sugar as the island's
dominant agricultural industry, the emphasis now is to encourage a
variety of new and existing ag-related ventures to locate or expand
their operations on the thousands of acres of idled former sugar
cane land; and
WHEREAS, a crop with great potentials for expansion is our own
island-grown banana which increased its market share by nearly a
hundred percent during the past ten years; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Banana Industry produced 12 million pounds
of fresh banana last year and has the potential of producing 22.5
million pounds annually by 1996, or 85$ of the banana consumed in
the State of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, although the cost of producing banana in Hawaii is
higher than in central America, the added cost of shipping evens out
the playing field and presently enables locally produced banana to
compete with imported bananas in Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, overproduction by Mezico, Central America and Ecuador
in their failed attempt to ezpand ezports to Europe has resulted in
the dumping of surplus bananas in the United States at prices
considerably below the cost of production; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii's banana producers are now faced with the
critical situation of contesting the unfair trading practices of
foreign producers and distributors or face certain bankruptcy; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Banana Industry Association has petitioned
the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade
Administration to investigate the unfair practice of dumping of
surplus foreign bananas in a banana producing state like Hawaii and
is requesting the State of Hawaii and the County of Hawaii for
assistance in this matter.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII that it takes this means to declare its total support of the
Hawaii Banana Industry Association's efforts to prevent the dumping
of surplus foreign bananas at below cost in Hawaii.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests the assistance
of Governor John Waihee and Hawaii's Congressional Delegation to use
their influences and powers to have the U.S. Department of Commerce
and International Trade Administration investigate such unfair
trading practices by multi-national corporations and render a
decision favorable to the Hawaii Banana Industry Association.
RESOLUTION N0. 1~ 93
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that true copies of this Resolution be
transmitted to Governor John D. Waihee III;
Senator Daniel K. Inouye; Senator Daniel K. Akaka; Representative
Patsy T. Mink; and Representative Neil Abercrombie.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 8th day of September 1993.
INTRODUCED BY:
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COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the
vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of
the CountyoPHawaiion September 8, 1993 ,
ATTEST:
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COU LERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES NOES ABS EX
Reference
RESOLUTION NO. 1~ 9~
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII