Joasquin Pérez Rodriguez was born in Cuba and studied at Baldor, Belén and at the University of Havana, where he was a member of the FEU for the Department of Agronomy. He was also a member of the Agrupacion Catolica Universitaria (a Catholic youth group within the University). A founding member of the Directorio Revolucionario Estudiantil (a student run organization opposing Fidel Castros regime), he had to flee Cuba and take up residence in Venezuela, where he was President of the Farmers Federation, Vice Minister of Information, Organizing Secretary of the Christian Democratic Party...