The “Tselatra” patrol boat is now dedicated to the South Zone and mainly has Toliara as its home port. If joining the South has always been somewhat restrictive for patrol boats on the Big Island for maritime surveillance and control operations, it is more practical to ensure surveillance of the south coast with the proximity of this armed forces boat. . A patrol boat change of command ceremony took place yesterday morning at the port of Toliara, in the presence of the Minister of National Defence, Lieutenant General Léon Richard Rakotonirina, and the Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development , Vina Orlea.
Lieutenant Velomanampisoa Erino Andriamanjaka handed over command of “Tselatra” to Lieutenant Sylvio Ratefiniaina. A military ceremony conducted under the aegis of Rear Admiral Jacquy Honoré Ga, Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces. A simulation exercise marked the ceremony, which saw the participation of the French navy, with the patrol boat Champlain and the Malagasy navy with “Tselatra”. Thirdly, marines were decorated with the surface insignia for having completed one hundred days at sea. And finally, the ceremony at the port of Toliara saw the presentation of berets to marine riflemen of the second marine infantry battalion , followed by the official establishment of the Toliara marine detachment.
Another military ceremony
Later yesterday, another military ceremony was held, honored by the Minister of National Defense, General Léon Rakotonirina and the Minister of the Environment, Marie-Orléa Vina. A ceremony organized under the aegis of the Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General, Lala Monja Delphin Sahivelo. It was the transfer of command of the “Fiherenana” Defense and Security Zone between Brigadier General Zafindravalomanana Arivelo Dera and Brigadier General Patrick Michel Raharison. Followed by the decoration of 113 deserving soldiers from the infantry brigade of Atsimo Andrefana, the visit of the premises of the marine detachment in Toliara and the inauguration of new infrastructures at the Raveloson Mahasampo camp.
