When we came here the Brits were a cash-cow for the Cypriots.... They sold us land, built us houses, maintained pools and gardens, did the plumbing, decorating, electrics, etc. Ran the restaurants, bars, shops....
It was a complete 'closed shop' as the Brits could only come here and 'retire'.... The only foreigners were the Eastern European 'cabaret' girls...
Joining the EU meant that all changed... now there are expats providing all those services in competition with the Cypriots...
It is inevitable IMHO that the modern generation of Cypriots don't view the expats in quite the same way....