The community of Saint Christopher currently has little presence in the government leadership, but it is fair to highlight (even if it is for general knowledge and village pride) that six children of San Cristoberos are now ambassadors of the Dominican Republic.
This is Ernesto Torres Pereyra, in Guyana; Acsamary Guzman Nina, Nicaragua; Erika Álvarez RodríguezSouth Africa; Mayerlyn Cordero Diaz, Organization of American States (OAS) and Raquel Jacobo Jaar, Antigua and Barbuda. Additionally, Alberto Despradel Cabral is ambassador attached to the Foreign Ministry, in charge of the Directorate of Relations with Haiti.
The following brushstrokes give a profile of the family branches of these young people, few known in the world. Saint Christopher pompous and disorderly of today, although descendants of renowned San Cristoberos from the old urban area.
Torres Pereyra: scion of the deceased left-wing politician Braulio Torres, adopted son of the “Puerta del Sur”, since his arrival from Cibao in 1949, and of the educator Ana Teresa Pereyra Ariza, native of that city, now residing in the capital. 53 years old, lawyer, was appointed in mid-2023 ambassador dominican in Guyana. In the diplomatic service since 1988, he held multiple positions, including Minister Counselor of the DR embassies in Tokyo and Seoul and ambassador in Israel
Guzman Nina: daughter of Osiris Guzmán Delgado, community and sports leader in Saint Christopher and his wife Sandra Nina. 48 years old, he has been in the diplomatic service for 23 years, holding various positions, especially minister-counselor in the Dominican representations in The Hague, Brussels and Paris. Graduate in Law with a Master in Public International Law from the Panthéon-Assas University, Paris. Appointed in June 2023 in Nicaragua.
Cordero Diaz: daughter of the deceased husband and wife José Ignacio Cordero Carrasco and Inés Díaz Duvergé (from a family with roots in ancient Saint Christopher). 51 years old, graduated in Law, with a postgraduate degree from George Mason University, Virginia, USA and the Spanish Diplomatic School. Ambassador to the OAS since 2023. Previously ambassador to Costa Rica, Minister Counselor embassy in Washington and Minister Counselor DR Mission to the OAS.
Erika Álvarez Rodríguez: daughter of doctor José Álvarez Valdez, currently resident in SD. He held previous key mid-level positions in: DR Mission to the OAS, Embassy in Belgium and the European Union; and Embassy in Spain. Lawyer and graduate of the Institute of Higher Education in Diplomatic and Consular Training of SD. He completed a master’s degree at the University of Tamkang, Taiwan, and a doctorate in Development Cooperation at the Complutense University of Madrid. Appointed in South Africa in January 2024.
Raquel Jacobo Jaar: daughter of the deceased husband and wife Josefina Jaar Pérez and Rafael Jacobo Fead. She studied International Relations, serves as an ambassador of the DR in Antigua and Barbuda. Formerly Dominican consul in Montreal.
Despradel Cabral: son of the late doctor Rafael Quirino Despradel. Designated by the present Government, head of the Directorate of Relations with Haiti of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the governments of presidents Hipólito Mejía and Danilo Medina he was ambassador in Haiti.
At least six San Cristobal residents were Dominican ambassadors abroad in the past.
He was from Trujillo: Tulio Mariano Cestero Leiva, with extensive diplomatic practice; Osvaldo Bazil, representative in Cuba and Spain and Virgilio Trujillo Molina, in Spain and England. When in 1940 and 1952 Rafael L. Trujillo did not officially occupy the presidency, but was the absolute head of the country, he had himself appointed plenipotentiary ambassador to travel to the United States and facilitate meetings with the highest authorities.
Twelve years of Joaquín Balaguer: Mario Read Vitini, ambassador in Washington from 1969 to 1970. In the Government of Antonio Guzmán Fernández: Sócrates Barinas Coiscou, Dominican ambassador in Mexico from 1978 to 1982. Government of Salvador Jorge Blanco: Alberto Despradel Cabral, ambassador in El Salvador and Japan.
Governments of Leonel Fernández and Danilo Medina: César Medina Abreu (adopted son of San Cristóbal), ambassador to Chile, Spain and Panama. José Osvaldo Leger was ambassador to Honduras and Guatemala in these governments. Héctor Pereyra Ariza was ambassador to Panama, Brazil, El Salvador and Nicaragua in the governments of Balaguer, Fernández and Mejía.
