DOMINIC ROMAIN WARNS ON AI DATA CENTRES, WATER RISKS & CEPEP JOB LOSSES | PRESS CONFERENCE 16/07/26

PNM MP Dominic Romain delivers a wide-ranging address on Trinidad and Tobago’s proposed AI data centres, water availability, public consultation, business closures, foreign-exchange challenges and the continuing impact of CEPEP and other programme shutdowns on vulnerable workers. Romain begins by addressing the Government’s recently signed memoranda of understanding for possible data-centre developments. He stresses that the PNM is not opposed to technology, innovation or foreign investment, but argues that major projects must be subjected to proper environmental, financial, legal and strategic scrutiny before they proceed. He calls on the Government to publish the relevant environmental-impact assessments, water-availability studies, energy assessments, cost-benefit analyses and agreements connected to the proposed developments. During the press conference, Romain raises questions about: • The potential water and electricity demands of AI data centres • Reported water problems in Malabar and Mausica • Whether the projects are still preliminary or already effectively approved • The locations selected for the proposed facilities • Tax concessions, land arrangements and local-content requirements • The background, resources and funding of the companies involved • Cybersecurity and national-security considerations • Whether any government official has professional or personal links to the entities involved • The need for genuine public consultation before final decisions are taken Romain also responds to remarks attributed to the Prime Minister about citizens raising environmental objections. He argues that thousands of people who have expressed concerns should not be dismissed and says consultation must take place before—not after—a project has effectively become a done deal. The MP then turns to Trinidad and Tobago’s wider economic situation, saying businesses are reporting falling consumer demand, reduced spending and difficulty meeting payroll. He claims some long-standing companies that survived the COVID-19 pandemic are now closing, while others are paying partial salaries or missing pay cycles. Romain also questions the status of a promised report concerning an alleged foreign-exchange cartel, saying the public is still waiting for evidence approximately 15 months after the issue was raised. In the final section, he focuses on former CPEP, URP and reforestation workers who remain unemployed. Romain shares distressing accounts of individuals facing severe financial and emotional pressure and calls on the Government to provide urgent assistance. He also alleges that workers in the National Public Spaces Programme completed six fortnights of work but were paid for only three, leaving families struggling to purchase food, schoolbooks and supplies for their children. Content notice: This address includes discussion of suicide and self-harm. Anyone experiencing a crisis should seek immediate support from a trusted person, qualified professional or local emergency service. Watch Dominic Romain’s complete contribution and judge his arguments for yourself. Do you believe the proposed AI data centres are being developed transparently? Should the Government release the environmental, water, energy and financial assessments before moving forward? Leave your opinion in the comments, share this video and subscribe for more political speeches, press conferences and news from Trinidad and Tobago. The statements, questions and allegations presented in this video are those of Dominic Romain and should not be treated as independently established findings. #DominicRomain #PNM #AIDataCentres #ArtificialIntelligence #WaterCrisis #CPEP #ForeignExchange #TrinidadAndTobago #TriniPolitics