A Change.org petition calling on the Government to halt approval of proposed artificial intelligence (AI) data centres in Trinidad and Tobago has attracted more than 3,200 verified signatures less than a day after it was launched.
The petition, started on Sunday by bioacoustician and conservation researcher Syam Nath, urges Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to suspend approval of the proposed facilities until comprehensive environmental, water resource and infrastructure assessments are completed, independently reviewed and made available for public consultation.
In the petition, Nath argues that while the AI data centre projects remain at the proposal stage, hyperscale facilities “can require substantial amounts of water for cooling, consume enormous quantities of electricity, and place additional demands on public infrastructure.”
The petition states that Trinidad and Tobago is already facing a longstanding water crisis, with many households experiencing intermittent supplies or relying on water tanks and truck-borne deliveries.
It also notes that the Government has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for the potential development of AI data centres requiring up to 150 megawatts and 300 megawatts of electrical capacity.
The petition says: “This petition does not oppose technology or investment. It calls for responsible planning, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making. Access to reliable drinking water is a fundamental public necessity and should not be placed at risk by industrial development without rigorous independent assessment.”
It further claims that no Environmental Impact Assessment, water availability study, cooling strategy or drought resilience plan has been publicly released for the proposed developments, arguing that without that information, the public cannot meaningfully assess whether the projects are in the national interest.
The petition links readers to a Guardian Media report on the proposed development.
The petition follows concerns raised after Government announced plans to facilitate two AI data centre projects in Debe. One proposal is for a 150-megawatt facility by US technology company Prometheus Hyperscale, while the second involves a 300-megawatt project by another developer.
Responding to concerns in the Guardian last week, officials said the proposed developments would not compromise water supplies for residents. Government said the projects would use desalinated seawater rather than potable water and stressed that the facilities remain at the memorandum of understanding stage, with no final approvals having been granted. Officials also said all required environmental approvals and regulatory processes would have to be completed before construction could begin.
https://www.change.org/p/suspend-approval-of-ai-data-centres-in-trinidad-and-tobago?recruiter=487615126&recruited_by_id=3a794de0-d1f1-11e5-beb4-f3f7002e526e&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_medium=copylink&share_id=rjvsprYF9T
