Mega shipping company Larparkan, on Saturday, June 1, welcomed the community to its new 416-428 Stanley Ave., Brooklyn office, with a lavish celebration that included a cultural presentation, messages of praise from members of the Diplomat Corps, and testimonials from longtime customers.
Set against the backdrop of the company’s blue and white themed colors and its tagline – ‘Connecting the Caribbean Globally” – Reverend Terry Lee of Byways & Hedges Youth for Christ Ministry, blessed the facility. Verna’s Impressions Dance Theater, Douglas Guthrie of Inner Circle Band and a steelpan rendition then entertained the gathering that was emceed by Corporate Manager of Marketing & External Relations, Wesley Kirton.
The 12,000 square feet space, Ambassador Bayney Karran noted in his keynote speech, will make it possible for the company to offer more of the reliable service that is known to customers in Brooklyn and the wider New York area, where the largest concentration of Guyanese and Caribbean Diaspora is located.
With the most expansive shipping offerings available to expatriates, Laparkan that was founded in 1983 by Glen Khan, John La Rose and Terrance Pariaug, saw a need to reconnect West Indians who were living overseas with their families and friends in their respective homelands in the Caribbean and Guyana.
Since opening its first office in New York, 30 years ago with just four employees, Laparkan has grown to include 400 employees in its core freight business, that now totals 1000 staff worldwide. The company ships personal effects in barrels and small packages from its main hub in Miami to more than 20 destinations, and will add more English speaking countries, as well as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, to its markets.
In addition to its money transfer and commercial ocean freight operations, Laparkan will add an online shopping service that would allow customers to ship directly to the Caribbean with the click of the mouse, said CEO Glen Khan.
An accountant by profession, Khan said the company takes pride in its service to ensure that customers get value for their money. “We want customers to have a good experience when they ship at a competitive price.”
“The business is highly regulated, by customs, federal and maritime procedures that must be in place for an effective and efficient operation,” said Kahn who is committed to providing professional and expedient service. he said this is the reason the company seeks the right talent to get the job done.
Later the CEO joined by Bayney Karran, Guyana’s ambassador to the United States, Nan Ramgoolam, Trinidad and Tobago Consul General Consulate, N.Y. General of Barbados, Lennox Price, President of Caribbean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Roy Hastick, among others, to cut the ribbon to officially open the warehouse, which is located off Pennsylvania Avenue, in East New York.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
