From July 21 to 26 in the city of Cartagena, Bolívar, the Colombian Navy carried out several activities in celebration of its 200 years of history. On July 24, 1823, the feat of Colombian independence occurred in the Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo, where the patriot victory was the action that decisively sealed national independence, with continental consequences.
Due to the close relationship of the Group of Inter-American Humanitarian Demining Monitors in Colombia (GMI-CO) with the Colombian Marine Corps in humanitarian demining activities, the GMI-CO participated as a guest in the celebrations, including the main Military Ceremony, held at the Almirante Padilla Naval School.
During the celebration, the Commander of the Colombian Navy, Admiral Francisco Hernando Cubides Granados, thanked the Group for its efforts towards a Colombia free of landmines.
Since 2006, the GMI-CO has supported the efforts of the Organization of American States and Colombian authorities to reduce the effects of such devices, which have penalized the population of this country for more than five decades. Currently, the Group is made up of officers from the Brazilian Navy, the Brazilian Army and the Mexican Army.
