The Expat Strikes Back: Fat cat parasites and xenophobic windbags

A letter has become the topic of heated debate in Bermuda since it was published in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ section of The Royal Gazette newspaper in February, 2000. It was written against a backdrop of politicians and locals accusing expatriates of stealing their jobs and putting a strain on Bermuda’s infrastructure. Expatriates in Bermuda would generally suffer such criticism in silence through fear of having their work permits revoked but the situation has become so intense that one company boss risked took the risk of putting his anger in writing. Although the author’s identity is being withheld at his or her request, Gazette editor Bill Zuill confirmed to this newsletter that the letter was genuine and that it was indeed written by an ‘Expat CEO’. While foreign workers generally welcomed the letter, many were nevertheless dismayed by its use of colourful and antagonistic language, which they believed detracted from its central theme