ALL men and women should have a voice in decision-making, either directly or through legitimate, intermediate institutions that represent their interests.
Such broad participation is built on freedom of association and speech, as well as capacities to participate constructively.
This is not the case when rice mills are being built in residential areas like Cane Grove, in particular, and other areas throughout the country as a whole.
First of all, a person who desires to establish a rice factory shall apply to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) for a permit to do so in triplicate, accompanied by a building plan, certificate of title, lease, or any other document evidencing title or a right of occupancy of the land; and an environmental permit from the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA), established under the EPA Act 1996, or a statement from the Agency to the effect that the application has been exempted from the requirement for an environmental impact assessment.
The Board, upon receipt of the documents referred to, according to the laws, shall transmit copies thereof to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the Central Board of Health (CBH), the Factories Division of the Occupational Health and Safety Department (OSH), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the  Fire Service for their consideration and recommendation for approval.
The Board shall, notwithstanding anything in any other written law, upon receipt of the recommendation and approval of the sectoral agencies to which the documents were transmitted, and taking that recommendation and approval into consideration, decide whether or not a permit should be granted for the rice factory to be established. The legal framework should now be fair and enforced impartially, particularly the laws on dust and noise pollution by the President or the relevant ministers responsible for these areas.
Good governance mediates differing interests to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interest of the people and, where possible, on policies and procedures to effect this.
Pollution and noise  problems caused by factories and other industrial operations in residential areas cover a very wide range of activities.
We may cite the Cane Grove dust and noise pollution problem where the hazards range from breathing dust into their lungs and the risk of resultant traumas. The scale of such an operation should never be allowed in a residential area because it pollutes the land and marine environments. Let it be known that transparency is built on the free flow of information processes.
Institutions and information are directly accessible to those concerned with them, and enough information is provided to understand and monitor them.
The Minister of Agriculture may, subject to the provisions of the Rice Factories Act, sanction any person who contravenes or breaches the laws and who shall be liable to a fine and imprisonment.