MIAMI, FL- – More than 200 government officials, corporations, and non-profit organisations gathered on Friday, May 7, to discuss aid logistics to the Americas and Caribbean in the event of a humanitarian crisis such as a hurricane in the Americas and the Caribbean later this year. Several companies including Laparkan, non-profit organizations, government agencies and individuals were also recognized for their contribution to recent disaster relief efforts in Haiti and Chile.
The occasion was AmericasRelief Team (ART’s) sixth annual Regional Crisis Relief and Logistics Luncheon held aboard the Carnival cruise ship, Imagination, at the Port of Miami.
The luncheon’s keynote speaker was former Governor of the State of Florida Jeb Bush, , who discussed the importance of involving non-profit organizations in the coordination of relief work following natural disasters and human crises in the Caribbean. Bush expressed his strong support of economic and social development in the Caribbean. He also encouraged the members and partners of AmericasRelief Team to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate suffering and help the region recover from the devastation created by natural disasters such as hurricanes and the devastating earthquake that impacted Haiti earlier this year.  Governor Bush stated that “these contributions foster goodwill and strengthen Florida’s relationship with our neighbors in the Caribbean.”
This year’s event was an exceptional representation of the work taking place in Haiti following the devastating earthquake of January 12th, as various government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporations who have contributed more than $2 billion in assistance were recognized.
AmericasRelief Team’s Executive Director, Dr. Teo A. Babun, Jr. presented special recognitions to: World Trade Center Miami; CBS4’s Neighbors 4 Neighbors; The Salvation Army; International Relief and Development (IRD); Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA); American Red Cross for Greater Miami and the Keys, Mr. Albert Portuguez; Laparkan; FedEx Express Latin America & Caribbean; APL Limited; LAN Airlines; Seafreight Agencies USA; U.S. Coast Guard; Baptist Health Systems; The Public Private Cooperating Division of the U.S. Southern Command; Mr. Tim Callaghan for The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA); and the Consul General for Haiti, the Honorable Ralph Latortue.
The event was sponsored by Carnival Corporation, as well as FedEx Express, Seaboard Marine, Seafreight Agencies, Tom Gallagher Insurance, and Oxfam America.  AmericasRelief Team coordinates, facilitates, and offers the following services for victims of humanitarian emergencies in the Americas: relief aid, preparedness, development, and recovery.  When disaster strikes, AmericasRelief Team works in a coordinated basis with the governments in the target region, the U.S. government, donating corporations, air & sea cargo carriers, logistics companies, non-governmental experts and others.