• ADC board stacked ‘political insiders’ • The unity of community ADC board stacked ‘political insiders’ The Agribusiness Development Corporation, created in 1994 and administratively attached to the state Department of Agriculture, was meant to have some of the flexibility
• ADC board stacked ‘political
insiders’ • The unity of community
ADC board stacked ‘political insiders’
The Agribusiness Development Corporation, created in 1994 and administratively attached to the state Department of Agriculture, was meant to have some of the flexibility of a private corporation in partnering with farmers, ranchers and aquaculturists to develop resources for Hawai‘i agriculture.
By operating outside of the sometimes-onerous administrative rules that govern the standing departments, the ADC, like the recently created Public Lands Development Corporation, has the opportunity to proactively address the advancement of agriculture in Hawai‘i.
Alfredo Lee, ADC’s executive director for the past 12 years, was recently pressured into resigning from his position — despite having received excellent performance evaluations by the ADC board throughout his tenure.
A brief and poorly advertised search for this important — and potentially lucrative — position produced a single “insider” candidate, James Nakatani, who was then hastily voted into the position by a board recently stacked with close associates of the candidate.
This stands in stark contrast with the search for a leader of the PLDC, where there were 17 candidates for the job.
The events surrounding the selection of an executive director for the ADC have been surprising and disappointing, not just to ourselves, but to producers up and down our island chain, from Hawai‘i Island to Kaua‘i.
Perhaps Mr. Nakatani is the best candidate for the job; however, the perfunctory nature of the search has left questions as to the fairness of the process. As the representatives of farmers and ranchers to the state government, we feel that it is our responsibility to express the shock and dismay that we hear every day, both at the process and in its result.
This was a process with a fore- ordained conclusion. This was a process that betrayed the trust of Hawai‘i agriculture in its leadership. Trust has been lost, and without trust in the fairness of the process and in the leaders, there can be no leadership.
This administration campaigned on a platform of supporting local agriculture. If cronyism and political horse-trading are going to be the modus operandi of this administration, then it is a “new day” that we can live without. If farmers and ranchers can see that the process is not fair and transparent, they will be reluctant to support and participate in any agricultural initiatives that might be developed, because they will know that the process will favor the insiders.
We are not willing to accept that this is “the way things are done” in Hawai‘i. We are not willing to go along with a process that outrageously favors and rewards political insiders at the expense of the farmers and ranchers of Hawai‘i.
We are not opposed to change, but positive change cannot occur by compromising integrity and trust in leadership.
We ask of this administration, and of our legislators, that they restore faith in government by conducting a proper, thorough, open and wide-ranging search for an executive director of the ADC that will bring dynamic, forward-thinking, transparent and fair leadership to Hawai‘i’s farmers and ranchers in developing the agricultural resources that are so critical for their success.
We speak for many in the agricultural community who hope that agriculture in Hawai‘i can move forward by a planning and implementation process that involves and includes the voices and needs of the grassroots: the agricultural producers.
Michelle Galimba and Alan Gottleib, board members,
Agribusiness Development Corporation
The unity of community
I am so proud of the residents of Waimea for filing a formal complaint against the genetically engineered seed and chemical experiments. This testing disrupts their daily lives and makes their homes, schools and rivers toxic.
We must support those living closest to this ag land because genetically engineered tests crops could pop up next to your organic farm. We must all stand together in this effort because what is sprayed in one area can come down in the rain of a cooler area. If one part of our island is not healthy, it is all of our responsibility to make it better.
These poor planting practices have introduced millions of gallons of chemical cocktails. Hawai‘i has more permits for genetic engineering experiments than any other place on earth. We owe it to ourselves to look into this.
What are the ramifications of testing “stacked trait” genetically engineered corn seed and spraying it with massive doses to find the upper tolerance level for herbicide application?
Until you see the dust and the spray trucks running daily, it is hard to fathom what some of the communities are being exposed to.
Trying to stop a toxic situation seems to take a very long time. All peaceful avenues must be pursued. As these folks stand up to Goliath in court, it is up to all of us to educate others.
I am grateful this will get a fair shake in the courtroom. This is where most GMO Free victories have been accomplished.
Jeri Di Pietro, Koloa
