FT. MYERS – Shipping to the Caribbean from the Florida Gulf Coast region will become more convenient with the official opening this Saturday of HBT Shipping, an authorized master cargo agent of Laparkan Shipping.
HBT Shipping Operations Manager Wesley Phillibert says the opening of the company’s 8,000 square foot warehouse along with the introduction of its ocean and air cargo packaging and shipping services under the Laparkan brand will provide residents of Fort Myers, Naples, Port Charlotte, Venice, Lehigh, Captiva Island, Bonita Springs, Northport and Immocales with convenient pick up, packaging and shipping services to the Caribbean region and further afield.
“There are significant communities of Caribbean nationals in these cities including those who come here to work under the seasonal farm worker and hotel worker programs. These residents often have need for shipping services and quite often have to travel to south Florida to transact their shipping business. That will no longer be necessary. In fact we will also be providing free transportation twice weekly for the farm and hotel workers to the main shopping centers as well as providing them space in our warehouse where they could store their purchases until they are ready to pack their barrels, boxes and containers,” Phillibert explained.
There are over 3,000 seasonal farm and hotel workers in the Florida Gulf region, a majority from Jamaica. There also are sizeable communities of Haitians, Barbadians and Guyanese resident in that region.
“We are happy to be operating under the Laparkan brand because it is well known and respected for its range of products, good customer service and competitive pricing. The products and services really fit the needs of the people we will be serving,” he said.
The HBT management team has been undergoing orientation at Laparkan’s corporate headquarters and main warehouse in Miami recently, familiarizing themselves with the state-of-the-art Laparkan Freight Management System (LFMS) technology in addition to procedures and regulations required by government agencies such as the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), US Customs and the Transportation Security Administration.
Laparkan Chairman and CEO Glen Khan said that the sizeable Caribbean communities in those areas of Florida deserve to have convenient, affordable and customer friendly and efficient service and that the Laparkan HBT alliance would certain be fulfilling that need.
“I am indeed happy especially for the farm and hotel workers who would no longer have to spend time and money to come to south Florida to have their shipping needs addressed,” he said.
The grand opening of the HBT warehouse and packing facility located at 2801 Michigan Avenue in Fort Myers is set to kick off at 2pm on Saturday with the ribbon cutting and official ceremony at 5pm. Among the invitees are community leaders, elected officials, the farm and hotel workers and representatives of faith-based organizations and the business sector.
