00:00With almost 16,000 signatures and counting, a growing number of citizens are urging government to mash breaks on the
00:08proposed AI data center projects until the public is given more information about their potential impact.
00:15The Change.org petition, which has reached 15,955 signatures up to news time, is addressed to Prime Minister Kamala
00:25Pesad-Besasa and calls for greater transparency before any approvals are granted.
00:30The concerns follow government's signing of a Memoranda of Understanding for the Possible Development of Large-Scale AI Data Centers
00:38in TNT.
00:39According to the petition, the proposed facilities would require up to 150 megawatts and 300 megawatts of electrical capacity and,
00:50depending on their design, could consume significant quantities of water for cooling.
00:55Petitioners say those proposals come at a time when many communities across Trinidad and Tobago continue to face an ongoing
01:04water crisis,
01:05with households experiencing scheduled pipe-borne water interruptions and relying on storage tanks and truck-borne deliveries.
01:13They argue that before projects of this scale move forward, the public deserves clear information on how they could affect
01:21the country's water supply, electricity grid, the environment, and neighboring communities.
01:27The petition says that no environmental impact assessment, water availability study, cooling strategy, or drought resilience plan has been publicly
01:37released for the proposed developments.
01:39It argues that without those assessments, citizens cannot make an informed judgment on whether the projects are in the country's
01:47best interest.
01:48The petition stresses that it is not opposed to technology or foreign investment, but instead calls for responsible planning and
01:56evidence-based decision-making before major industrial projects proceed.
02:01Its authors are now calling on government to suspend approval of the proposed AI data centers until comprehensive environmental, water
02:11resource, and infrastructure assessments have been completed, independently reviewed, and made available for public consultation.
02:19The petition also argues that access to reliable drinking water is a basic public necessity and should not be jeopardized
02:27by large-scale industrial development without rigorous oversight.
02:31Responding to concerns, Prime Minister Kamala-Passad Bisasa said the water to be used would be non-potable water, supplied
02:39from on-site ponds to be constructed at Picton, Debe, and from the expansion of existing ponds at Yuzin, St.
02:46Madeleine, and Brechen Castle.
02:48She said if the Beetham site is selected, it would utilize processed wastewater.
02:53Our Vashita Wari-Rupnarain, TV6 News.
Comments