Stop trying to change Cyprus into little England

Sir,
I would like to react to the comments by Nitsa Roussot (Letters to the editor, September 19). I’ve been living in Cyprus now for over 10 years I come from Holland and a married with a Cypriot and have three kids.

My husband are I work in the tourism industry. We rent bikes and we also rent some apartments and we are also tired of the English people. When I came to Cyprus I came with the idea that I had come to live as a guest in another country; for that, I respect the Cypriots and their country and lifestyle. OK, certain things I don’t like, but I also don’t like certain things in my own country.

How many times have I heard English people complaining about all the foreigners living in their country who are not willing to give up their background to integrate into the British way of life? How many English people have come to live here because it was cheaper, safer and more friendly? And what do we have now? People moaning and complaining and saying that without the English there will be no food on the plates from the Cypriots… Please don’t forget that most Cypriots will manage and did manage without them.

In my opinion, it’s not fair to come to another country and than try to make your rules because you think that country cannot survive without your money. The time when Cyprus was a British colony is long past, and instead of being happy to be in a country were it is still safe to walk and to live, they want to change Cyprus in a little England. I’m sorry to be so rude but every day I deal with English people and every day I hear their complaints. I’m tired of it: leave the people here how they are and please don’t change them; things are already changing and not for the best I’m afraid.

Jantina de Kleine
Yeroskipou

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.