The rivalry between the Cayman Islands and Bermuda gets personal today with the publication of an open letter from the Caribbean colony’s Premier McKeeva Bush to Premier Paula Cox.Mr Bush’s letter demands an end to what he calls Ms Cox’s “antagonistic” behaviour toward him.“As Cayman’s Premier, I consider your statements, your behaviour, as the Bermuda Premier — to be wholly unjustified, and downright antagonistic,” the letter states.Last week Ms Cox told this newspaper that Mr Bush had been making disparaging remarks about rival jurisdictions to cover up problems in his own country.“To be clear, this is not the first time he has made disparaging remarks about other jurisdictions in order to cover up the problems that he has had to address in his own country,” she said then.She was reacting to Mr Bush’s own comments touting what he saw as his country’s continuing competitive advantage despite having recently imposed a payroll tax just for expatriates.“There is no racial tension here; people can own as many vehicles as they want; they can own property; they can buy their own home; and there’s no other kind of taxation,” Mr Bush said.“We have first class infrastructure here. None of our competitors are in as good a position as us.”Ms Cox argued that Mr Bush had been forced to impose the payroll tax by the UK Government and said that Mr Bush’s comments did not represent a threat to Bermuda.At a conference in the Cayman Islands in February Mr Bush made a direct reference to Bermuda by boasting that his country could end Bermuda’s lead in the insurance market.“In the mid Atlantic they say they ‘may’ reduce some fees; we have reduced fees. They are still talking about their immigration policy and make long statements, but I say this boldly — while Bermuda has been the champion, be assured that we can grow.“We here can do it without the malice, without the inhibitions of race, without the inhibitions of transport.”Ms Cox was quick to respond then, too, saying that Bermuda was well placed to extend its lead, while Cayman was talking about “closing the gap”.In his letter, Mr Bush, who also serves as Minister of Finance, Tourism and Development, advises Ms Cox “to concentrate on what can help Bermudans survive in these critical days, just as McKeeva Bush is trying to do for Caymanians!”.The letter continues: “The fact is, as Cayman’s Premier I have never attacked, any other country, including Bermuda not even when its Premier consistently attacks me. I consider my relationships with all regional Territories to be highly amicable.”Examples of how he is trying to improve life for Caymanians include plans for three new hotels and a golf club, a medical tourism project which breaks ground later this month and rapid progress on a Special Economic Zone “which means new business is coming”.“I have every right to promote what is good about the Cayman Islands — even if you read into it, that it is something competitive to Bermuda.“Cayman also has its competitors — but I don’t attack their leaders. Hon Paula Cox — the Cayman Premier is busy working. What are you doing for Bermuda?“My advice is you should stop attacking me and use your energy to move the good islands of Bermuda forward.”Ms Cox has declined to comment on Mr Bush’s latest salvo. Mr Bush is travelling and could not be reached for comment last night.The official Opposition One Bermuda Alliance did not respond to a request for comment.But Kim Swan, the interim leader of the United Bermuda Party, said he found the spat “ironic and disturbing” and called on the respective Governors to broker talks between the two territories.“It is unfortunate that the Cayman Premier would choose an open (public) letter to the Premier of Bermuda, which makes a futile attempt to ‘mend fences’ with Bermuda,” Mr Swan said.“I recall that it was the Cayman Premier who made derogatory comments about Bermuda in February 2012 which didn’t sit well me and others at the time.“What I find most ironic and disturbing is that two British Overseas Dependent Territories Bermuda and Cayman Islands — both feeling the wrath of the economic dragon and suffering from serious social challenges — are publicly fighting each other when both jurisdictions not only compete against each other but also mother Britain and other major countries for the same business around the world.”Mr Swan added: “The world is watching and I have to ask, what message is this open letter, and other disparaging comments, achieving for either jurisdiction?“The time has come for diplomacy to prevail and if it has not already started, I call on both Government Houses of Cayman and Bermuda to broker talks between their subordinate jurisdictions.“Ironically, if we were both sovereign countries such disputes could result in more serious consequences.“However, the fact that we are not should not prevent us from acting responsibly.”