President of Dominican Republic to visit Peace Corps Headquarters
Read and comment on this press release from the Peace Corps on the visit of H.E. Hipolito Mejia Domínguez, President of the Dominican Republic to Peace Corps Headquarters on September 26 at:
Born on February 22, 1941, in Gurabo, Santiago. Gurabo was then a small village of quiet living, with prevalence in farming, of close-knit familes and the upholding of values dedicated to placing priority on the respect of people and a sincere closeness to the Creator, as part of the same existence. He walked the fields, played with the soil with his hands and many times left it fertile with fruit. He rode and voiced compliments on the roads, knew what was a river of transparent waters and in his childhood sat in the chairs of a rural school. When Rafael Hipólito Mejía Domínguez was born he didn't bring with him any set destiny, apart from work, discipline and perseverance. And with them his lot was cast.
The second son of the marriage between Hipólito de Jesús Mejía and María Josefa Domínguez showed physical strength and of character since childhood. Of the physical he demonstrated it when he was in charge of the daily chores or when playing baseball, one of his strongest passions. Of the firmness of his character his contemporaries could bear witness, especially his sister Isabel Mejía of Grullón.
When he concluded secondary education, in Santiago, he moved to San Cristobal to study agronomy in the Loyola Polytechnic Institute, where he graduated in 1962. Two years later, at age 23, he went to North Carolina University, in the United States, to continue his studies in his professional area. He has taken numerous courses in business management and agri-business.
He has been married with Rosa Gómez for thirty years, and have four children: Carolina, Lisa, Felipe and Ramón Hipólito. All are professionals and have married. Up to now, President Mejía and Mrs. Rosa have seven grandchildren.
Hipólito Mejía's professional quality is evident in his perseverance in the posts which he has held in the public as well as in the private sector, besides the initiatives to spur his own business in farm products or in the processing of seeds. At just twenty-four years of age, he was appointed director of the Tobacco Institute, with a rank of under secretary. Years later, in 1978 President Antonio Guzmán appointed him Minister of Agriculture and coordinator of the entire agricultural sector. He was just 37 years old. During this period agri-business incentive laws were passed, and the most ambitious program to promote rural agriculture development and technification was undertaken.
The post of Agriculture Minister allowed the country to get well acquainted with Hipólito Mejía. His capacity to make decisions when faced with adverse circumstances was proven as hurricane David and tropical storm Federico devastated the country. To that should be added the manner in which he confronted the African swine fever.
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