Transparency call over Govt MoUs

Public interest advocate Wendell Eversley has initiated a push for transparency by filing three requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). These requests target three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, which are related to significant national projects including the development of data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the recommissioning of a former iron and steel plant.

Eversley, through his attorneys, has directed these requests to the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Ltd (PLIPDECO). He is seeking complete executed copies of the MoUs, which include agreements with Ernst & Young LLP for data center development, Hummingbird AI Holdings LLC for AI infrastructure and a data center, and an MoU involving Pinnacle Steel and Vanadium Corporation and PLIPDECO for the refurbishment of the former iron and steel plant.

In a statement, Eversley emphasized that these agreements involve major national assets, strategic infrastructure, and state lands, potentially impacting public finances, industrial development, technology policy, and the broader economy. He drew a parallel to the former government's MoU with Sandals, which was eventually made public in the interest of transparency. Eversley asserts that the current government must adhere to the same standard and release these MoUs to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

Eversley stressed that the current requests are limited to obtaining copies of the executed MoUs, allowing the public to examine the agreements and assess any associated obligations, concessions, timelines, land arrangements, incentives, safeguards, or financial exposures. He also raised concerns about the difficulties the public faces when attempting to make FOIA requests, citing issues such as unavailable or outdated websites and a lack of clearly identified designated officers or contact information for submissions. Eversley argued that public authorities cannot champion transparency while simultaneously hindering citizens' statutory right to access official documents.

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This Government must now apply the same standard and release these MoUs to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.