Senior Reporter
Hummingbird AI has moved to counter growing public scepticism over its proposed multi-billion-dollar artificial intelligence infrastructure project in Trinidad and Tobago, releasing details of its leadership, international partners and long-term vision after facing criticism over its limited public profile.
The company, which signed one of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government last Friday, has come under scrutiny after questions were raised about the absence of a public website, limited corporate footprint and claims circulating online that it was little more than a shell company.
In a confidential document highlighting details of the proposed project and its ramifications for the community where it is listed to be developed, obtained by Guardian Media, the company’s four principal leaders are listed as Trinidadian entrepreneur Marc-Kwesi Farrell, digital infrastructure specialist Ashton Soniat, infrastructure finance executive Nicholaus Rohleder and major project delivery expert Jake McEwan.
Together, the company said the leadership team has collectively overseen more than US$10 billion in infrastructure development, US$4 billion in capital formation and over one gigawatt of digital infrastructure projects across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
According to the document, the company was created specifically to develop large-scale AI infrastructure projects rather than operate as a traditional technology firm.
The company also said it is backed by US-based engineering firm The Shaw Group, which has provided a formal letter expressing its intention to support engineering, fabrication, infrastructure and power-generation solutions for the T&T project. It said Shaw is currently involved in more than 1.8 gigawatts of hyperscale infrastructure projects in the US. It said international law firm Hogan Lovells is serving as lead legal counsel for project structuring and institutional capital formation, while discussions are ongoing with US-based institutional investors and infrastructure funds. However, it said those negotiations remain confidential because of the project’s early commercial stage.
According to the document, Hummingbird AI was established to “originate, structure, finance and deliver nationally significant AI infrastructure projects,” bringing together infrastructure developers, engineering firms, technology partners and institutional investors under a single development platform.
The company said its responsibilities include project origination, commercial strategy, capital formation, strategic partnerships and coordinating the engineering and financing required to move the project from concept through construction and long-term operation.
Addressing broader concerns about the project itself, Hummingbird AI stressed that the MoU signed with the T&T Government represents only the beginning of the development process.
The company said no construction can proceed without detailed engineering studies, environmental assessments, utility analysis, regulatory approvals and consultation with stakeholders, describing those processes as essential to determining whether the project is ultimately viable.
The Government has sought to allay public concerns over the potential environmental and infrastructure impact of the projects, saying it has been planning the developments across several ministries and that water supply to residential and commercial customers will not be affected.
Hummingbird AI acknowledged public concerns surrounding electricity demand, water use and environmental impacts, saying those issues are legitimate and will form part of the project’s technical evaluation. It said options such as behind-the-meter power generation, renewable energy integration, advanced cooling systems and alternative water sources, including non-potable water or desalination where appropriate, would all be assessed during the engineering and environmental review process.
The document outlined the company’s role in advancing the proposed AI infrastructure campus, beginning with an initial 150-megawatt deployment with ambitions to scale beyond 500MW over time.
The company maintained that T&T’s industrial experience, competitive energy costs and strategic location position it to become a regional AI infrastructure hub if the project ultimately proceeds. It said the initiative could generate significant construction activity, skilled employment and foreign exchange earnings while supporting broader economic diversification.
