Rose: NESDEC is no rubber stamp

Chief spokesperson on the social contract drafted by the National Economical Social Development Council (NESDEC), Renrick Rose, said that the council is committed to having a deep level of cooperation between civil society and government and not act as a rubber stamp.

Rose, speaking at the press conference to announce the draft said that contrary to misconception, the council is independent of government control.{{more}}

“I know there is this misconception and it has become the realm of partisan politics, I have heard statements made in the House of Assembly to the effect that NESDEC is just some puppet of government’s own policies,” Rose said. “I can’t remember in my life having been involved in a rubber stamp process”.

Rose, who is also the deputy chairman of NESDEC reinforced the fact that the council is not an agency of government, and is committed to working with whichever government.

The council, which was formed in 2001, consists of about 34 bodies, including eight government ministries, three political parties, and a number of community based and non-governmental organizations.

Rose added that a civil society and government will not always agree on certain policies, nor would they always approve of decisions made by the government. But it is the duty of the civil society to stand up to government as they have done in the past.

He said that he expects the government and civil society to work together and does not expect the council to just follow orders.

“We don’t foresee signing any contract with government which subsumes the social contract movement and organizations to the government, we see it as a partnership.”

“If it is not working,” Rose added, “and government wants us to play a rubber stamping role I expect any of us who are worth our salt to say we are not going to get involved in this project.”