William “Bill: Perkins and Dr. Clayton Wheatley, Director of the Emergency Department at the Roy Lester Schneider Regional Medical Center, load shipment of KN95 respiratory masks for transport from Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas to the hospital. Photo Credit: BRISA MAX
ST. THOMAS — Energy hedge fund manager William Perkins III and Brisa Max Holdings VI LLC delivered more than 14,000 KN95 respiratory masks to the territory's hospitals to help ensure protect doctors, nurses, hospital workers and other first responders in the fight against COVID-19 and its spread in the USVI.
The KN95 masks were delivered to the Schneider Regional Medical Center late Wednesday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved KN95 masks — equivalent to N95 protective gear — for hospital use in early April. Mr. Perkins said he immediately began to acquire the KN95 personal protective equipment for the territory’s public health providers and first responders, who have worked through a shortage of personal protective equipment since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We all have a part to play in keeping the islands safe and strong. My staff and I are happy for the opportunity to play a small part in that,” Mr. Perkins said in a prepared statement. In addition to the hospital, Brisa Max delivered 3,500 respiratory masks to the Virgin Island Fire Service for use by emergency medical technicians and firefighters. Fire Service Deputy Chief of Operations (St.Thomas) Eustace Grant said the department was grateful for the “much needed” protective gear.
Additional masks are being donated to other frontline workers and charities, such as the Family Resource Center. Mr. Perkins said he is hoping to arrange future deliveries of masks to the territory.
Brisa Max is a St. Thomas-based management and energy consulting company founded by Mr. Perkins in 2014. The company’s primary focus is investment management and the development of sustainable, renewable energy.
In addition to Brisa Max, Mr. Perkins has other business interests in the territory, including Bebop, a floating lounge being developed for the Pillsbury Sound.
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