On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on your 40^th anniversary of independence.

I commend this year’s Independence Day theme, “The Bridge to the Future…The Journey Continues,” which emphasizes a connection to the past while also highlighting a commitment “to pressing onward, marching together to a common loftier goal,” as expressed in your National Anthem.

The United States and The Bahamas share a long history of trade partnership and security cooperation. Our cooperation on the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and other programs, have advanced civilian security; promoted social equity and combated HIV/AIDS; spurred economic development; and promoted a clean and secure energy future in our region.

From Grand Bahama to Great Inagua, as you commemorate the anniversary of your peaceful journey to nationhood, know the United States is committed to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between our two neighboring nations. May peace, happiness, and prosperity be abundant for The Bahamas in the years ahead.