AS Christmas draws closer, and customers continue to zero in on special arrangements put in place to facilitate hassle-free collection of barrels, and flat-rate air cargo coming into the country, Laparkan’s warehouse on Lombard Street was a hive of activity over the last few days. General Manager of Laparkan’s Freight Forwarding Division, Eric Phillips, who spoke with this newspaper on Monday, had good news, noting that the clearing and uplifting of ocean cargo (barrels) was proceeding both smoothly and rapidly. And this was equally so for air-cargo coming into the country via Cheddi Jagan International Airport, he assured.
Alluding to the ocean cargo service, Phillips said that containers are coming in large quantities and there is a continuous flow.
“Right now the warehouse is filled, but we are working to ensure persons get their barrels.”  But even with 40-ft containers each accommodating about 180 barrels, this is by no means overwhelming the staff. Teaming up with customs officers who are also working feverishly, the Laparkan staff at the Lombard Street warehouse certainly have things under control. And there’s never a dull moment as the newspaper saw on a visit to the facility. Customers seemed confident and showed a great deal of optimism.
Additionally, the air cargo service continues to be a boon to the transporting of cargo in and out of Guyana, and particularly coming in from the North American diaspora. The service which offers economy or ‘flat-rate’ shipping via air transport is now one of Laparkan’s most popular and much sought-after services. Parcels and boxes are catered for, ranging from 25 lbs, and 45 to/70 lbs.
One of its key benefits is that boxes or parcels coming into the country via that service are custom-cleared by staff at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, eliminating the hassle of the consignee having to travel all the way up there to uplift them.
When the flat-rate parcels arrive, Laparkan simply makes a telephone call to the consignee who will then turn up at the Lombard Street warehouse, pay the required fee, and uplift his box which would have already been cleared.
Recalling that last Saturday a shipment of 500 flat-rate pieces had come in at the CJIA, Phillips said that by Tuesday the entire shipment had already been cleared at the airport and many people had already uplifted their parcels.
“And even as I speak here, another 300 pieces which arrived at the airport last night (Tuesday) are being cleared, with four or five vans waiting to be de-stuffed,” Phillips said. Air cargo flights normally arrive in Guyana on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Phillips is optimistic that everyone would be able to get his barrel and parcels before Christmas Eve, provided they are ready and turn up to get them.
Laparkan Airways offers customers regular, reliable flights between North America and the Caribbean. They handle everything, from perishables and personal effects, to industrial equipment.
Laparkan Airways Inc. started flying in 1992, and has grown to be one of the leading air cargo carriers serving the Caribbean. It caters to varying customers such as the freight forwarding community, personal effects, and a myriad of commercial interests both in North America and the Caribbean.