SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Jan 6 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The General Chief of the Canary Islands Command, Alejandro Escámez Fernández, has highlighted the work carried out during the emergency caused by the La Palma volcano, in which different activities have been carried out by land, sea and air, shoulder to shoulder with the Civil Guard , with the rest of the State security forces and bodies and with the essential services of the Islands.
This was stated during the celebration of Military Easter at the Palace of the Captaincy General of the Canary Islands, a military act marked again by the pandemic that this year celebrates the 240th anniversary of its creation by King Carlos III.
The military ceremony began with the rendering of honors, which, like the previous year and due to the current health situation, did not take place in Plaza Weyler, but took place in the central courtyard of the Palace of the Captaincy General of the Canary Islands. The participating Honors Picket belonged to the Infantry Regiment ‘Tenerife’ No. 49 of the Brigade ‘Canarias’ XVI.
This was followed by an imposition of decorations awarded on the occasion of the Military Easter to personnel of the General Headquarters of the Canary Islands Command, Canary Islands Naval Command, Canary Islands Air Command, Military Emergency Unit (UME), Fifth General Sub-inspection of the Army and 16 Zone of the Civil Guard.
During his speech, the Chief General of the Canary Islands Command took stock of the year, especially regarding the health crisis, highlighting the work carried out within Operation ‘Mission Baluarte’ by the Armed Forces, which includes the Military Unit of Emergencies based in the Archipelago, mainly in epidemiological surveillance tasks in conjunction with the health system.
He has highlighted the work carried out in the framework of Permanent Operations by the Canary Islands Air Command, in the same way that the Canary Islands Naval Command has done in our territorial waters or the Canary Islands Command itself with its presence and ground surveillance in all the islands.
In addition, he stressed that they have continued to instruct and train, carrying out aerial, naval, land or emergency simulation exercises in the environment of the Islands such as the Ocean Sky or the hitherto unprecedented projection to Zaragoza of the Canarias XVI Brigade to participate in the largest exercise of the Army.
Similarly, Alejandro Escámez valued that the Civil Guard has continued to protect the free exercise of rights and freedoms and guarantee the public safety of all Canaries, achieving many successes throughout the year. He has also made reference to the participation of the Units of the three Commands located in the Canary Islands in some of the International Missions with which Spain is committed, highlighting that of the Canary Islands Brigade in Lebanon.
NUMEROUS CHALLENGES FOR 2022.
In relation to this year, in addition to all continuing with the effort against COVID 19 within Operation ‘Misión Baluarte’, the Chief General of the Canary Islands Command indicated that the Armed Forces in the Islands will face numerous challenges such as maintaining operations and committed international deployments; as well as maintaining security in the Canarian maritime, air and land spaces.
Also continue with the rigor and demand in instruction and training; improve the infrastructures and quality of life in the Bases and Barracks or incorporate the new materials and equipment that may correspond to the different acquisition programs, renovating and modernizing those that are currently available.
Within the institutional scope, the Army’s intention was expressed to consolidate the Army Brand project and the figure of its ambassadors, present at this event, mentioning the commemoration of the 100 years of the entry into service of the first armored Units as the most important anniversary to celebrate this 2022.
The event was attended by different civil and military authorities in a reduced number due to the COVID preventive measures, among which the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands and the Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as well as the Chief Generals of the Air Command, Naval Command. and the Civil Guard Zone, among others.
