Should T&T Create AI Legislation?

On February 26, 2025, El Salvador made headlines by passing a comprehensive law to govern the development, use, and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). It was a forward-thinking step designed to balance innovation with safety, and it poses an important question for the rest of the region: Should Trinidad and Tobago follow suit? 

As AI technologies continue to shape industries and influence how we live, work, and communicate, the Caribbean can’t afford to play catch-up. Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), in particular, needs to consider its own legislative response before the tech wave becomes a legal and ethical tsunami. 

What Did El Salvador Do? 

El Salvador’s Law for the Promotion of Artificial Intelligence and Technologies is a sweeping framework that: 

• Defines AI clearly, including its potential to operate autonomously. 

• Creates a National AI Agency to regulate and promote AI use. 

• Encourages the formation of innovation hubs and public-private collaboration. 

• Mandates transparency in AI-influenced decision-making for commercial and public services. 

• Offers legal protection for developers who comply with safety and ethical standards. 

• Clarifies ownership of AI-generated intellectual property. 

It even requires entities to disclose when AI makes decisions and allows users to challenge those decisions before a qualified human. This isn’t just about innovation. It’s about trust, accountability, and readiness for a digital future. 

Why This Matters for Trinidad and Tobago 

T&T is no stranger to innovation. The country has long prided itself on being a regional leader in finance, energy, and culture. But AI adoption is accelerating, and right now, there’s no clear legal structure around it. 

Here’s what we risk without legislation: 

• Lack of accountability when AI is used in hiring, finance, healthcare, or government services. 

• Missed economic opportunities from startups and investors who avoid unregulated markets. 

• Privacy concerns as more systems use data to automate decisions. 

• Educational and professional gaps, where citizens aren’t adequately prepared for AI-driven roles. 

What Could AI Law Look Like in T&T? 

If Trinidad and Tobago were to develop its own AI legislation, it could borrow and build upon El Salvador’s framework with Caribbean-specific concerns in mind. Key areas might include: 

1. Creating a National AI Commission 

An independent body to oversee, support, and regulate AI use across industries. This commission could also lead education campaigns and provide guidance to local businesses. 

2. Defining Ethical Boundaries 

Unlike El Salvador's law, which was criticized for having only one clause on AI ethics, T&T could take a stronger stance by incorporating clear ethical principles such as fairness, transparency, non-discrimination, and data protection. 

3. Fostering Innovation Hubs 

T&T can encourage AI entrepreneurship through state-supported incubators and incentives for research, development, and training. 

4. Data Privacy and User Protection 

Given our existing data privacy challenges, AI legislation must strengthen user rights. If a bot decides your loan application outcome, you should know and be able to contest it. 

What Happens If We Wait? 

El Salvador’s head start means they may soon attract more tech investment, build AI expertise, and integrate smarter tools across energy, education, and agriculture. If Trinidad and Tobago waits too long, we risk becoming consumers of AI tools developed elsewhere, without influence over how they’re used or regulated locally. 

We also risk leaving vulnerable groups behind. AI bias is real, and without protective legislation, we may unintentionally automate discrimination or amplify inequality. 

The Road Ahead 

The future of AI in Trinidad and Tobago will happen, with or without legislation. But laws help us shape that future, rather than simply react to it. 

Now is the time for consultation. Policymakers, educators, developers, and civil society should begin national conversations about AI's role in our economy and our daily lives. 

The question isn’t if AI will become part of T&T’s reality, it’s whether we’ll be ready when it does. 

Should Trinidad and Tobago start drafting AI legislation? What industries do you think need it most? Let us know in the comments. 

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