The Swedish archaeologist Alfred Westholm witnessed the impact of the global financial crisis in Cyprus and on the miners in particular:
Here on Cyprus the general global crisis has made itself intensely felt, and it is even said that things are worse now than ever during and after the war. Masses of workers have had to be let go at the big mines nearby at Skouriotissa and Mavrovouni, and work is at ¼ capacity compared with the normal rate, and many believe that all of it will have to be shut down soon. (The more poorly run, big asbestos mines at Amianthos closed down already last year.) The atmosphere is quite tense and the Tilliria people come to me as usual with their troubles. I cannot give work to any more now, only console them that everything will be better in time. Here and there one must help out in both one way and the other. I wish I were a rich man – but then maybe they would not come and talk to me! I could get workers very cheaply now, but I do not have the heart to let them know that. That would be low and unthinkable after the work we have done here together. There are quite a few who have been with us from the very start in the theatre.