Here follows a press statement by US Secretary of State John Kerry:

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as you celebrate 42 years of independence on July 10.

The Bahamas is a trusted partner and friend. Your country’s abundant natural beauty is why Americans, such as Ernest Hemingway and Martin Luther King, Jr, flock to your shores. And it is why more than six million Americans follow in their footsteps each year.

I congratulate you on your successful CARICOM chairmanship. You have helped invest in our collective citizen security, energy diversification, and youth development. The United States is a committed partner in working to build a safer and more prosperous Bahamas.

On this day of celebration, I wish all Bahamians a joyful Independence Day.