Santa Cruz de Tenerife 14 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The Popular Party of the Canary Islands has voiced its “concern” regarding the potential dissolution of the Reserve and Security Group No. 8 of the Civil Guard (GRS8), which is based in Tenerife. They have stated that they will employ “all necessary measures” to ensure this specialised unit does not depart from the Canary Islands, and additionally, they will urge the Ministry to supply the material and human resources vital for their operations.
This was echoed by the PP representative for the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Congress, Juan Antonio Rojas, during a working session with delegates from the Unified Association of the Civil Guard (AUGC), the Union of Guardia Officers Professional Civil (UO), the Association of the Civil Guard Secondary Scale (Acesgcc), and the Professional Association of Civil Guard (Jucil).
Also present were the spokesperson for the popular parliamentary group in the Autonomous Chamber, Luz Reverón, and the PP representative for the province of Las Palmas, Carlos Sánchez.
Rojas articulated that the GRS8 is the “only rapid unit” of the Civil Guard in the Canary Islands, which has fulfilled a crucial role in maintaining safety in the region since its establishment in 2009, handling duties such as crowd management at large events, reinforcements in areas of conflict, anti-terrorism operations, and providing support during emergencies and humanitarian crises.
The popular deputy noted that the Civil Guard “has not definitively ruled out the dissolution of the GRS8”, which not only “induces anxiety and distress” among the agents stationed in this unit but also “impacts over 100 families”.
“Once again, the government under Pedro Sánchez mistreats our forces and security bodies,” he continued.
“Strategic significance” of the service
Rojas emphasised that “it is clear that Sánchez’s administration, with the most disapproved interior minister at the helm, Grande-Marlaska, is solely focused on his political survival rather than working towards delivering better working and media conditions for members of the State Security Forces and Bodies.”
Rojas elaborated on the services rendered by this unit across the islands in recent years, underlining “their strategic significance”, including their actions during the eruption of the La Palma volcano and reinforcements during national crises, such as the aftermath of the Dana in Valencia and monitoring of the Guadalquivir River.
During the meeting with representatives from various associations of Civil Guard professionals, the Popular Party expressed their “complete support” for the training of security forces and their “opposition” to the disbanding of the GRS8 in the islands.
“We will utilise all available resources to prevent this specialised unit from abandoning,” commented the deputy.
Among the initiatives proposed by the PP, the Canarian deputy announced a legislative proposal regarding the enhancement of material and human resources for the Civil Guard, along with the “immediate revocation” of the planned dissolution of the reserve and security group No. 8 based in the Canary Islands for discussion in the Interior Commission of Congress and the Mixed Commission on insularity in the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.
In this context, the spokesperson for the Popular Parliamentary Group in the Regional Chamber, Luz Reverón, also indicated that their party will extend these appeals in the autonomic and insular domains, within regional parliament and councils, to urge the Government of Spain to retract its intention to dismantle the GRS8 in the islands.
Moreover, they will advocate for a “commitment” to provide additional material and human resources to this unit to ensure its operation and effectiveness in fulfilling its responsibilities.
