Speeches

First I would like to recognize their Excellencies, Governor General and Mrs. Hanna.  It is an honor to have you both with us today to share in our celebration of the 230th anniversary of United States Independence.   I look forward to visiting your home and sharing your celebration of The Bahamas’ Independence later this week.

I am also honored to welcome the most Reverend Drexel Gomez.  Your Grace, thank you for being here to share in this celebration.

Minister Peet, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcome to you as well.

It is important to recognize the generosity of our supporters.  They have made today's celebration possible.  There are too many donors to cite individually, but they are listed in your program, and they deserve recognition.

It would be an injustice not to recognize the program participants.  Over the last 2 years I have visited many schools in the Bahamas.  The talent of the young people has been so wonderful.  So, to highlight their talent I have invited several to join us this evening.  Nikita Smith, our mistress of ceremony is a 5^th grade student at Sadie Curtis Primary.  Sasha Bullard is from the all age school in Harbor Island and the choir is from E P Roberts Primary.  Please join me in showing our appreciation for these fine young people of the Bahamas.

During these visits I saw so many dedicated teachers.  Now remember, my boss, president bush, is married to a teacher – so I can not say enough about the teaching profession.  So ladies and gentleman, I would like to ask Mrs. Tamika Cartwright, the Bahamas teacher of the year to stand.  And I want to ask you to join me in showing your appreciation for what she and the thousands of teachers like her do for the children of the Bahamas. 

Let me also welcome our entertainers.  First, thanks to the Rhode Island National Guard Band.  The Rhode Island National guard has an ongoing partnership with the Bahamas and this is one of the many ways we work together.  Thank you for being here. 
To the Zydeco Hellraisers – thank you for such lively entertainment. 
Let’s show our appreciation to our entertainment.

To all our distinguished guests, business associates, neighbors and friends, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Liberty Overlook.  Thank you all for joining us today to help celebrate this special day in our national life. 

Each year at this time we recall the vision of our founding fathers in shaping a vibrant and enduring democracy rooted in the inalienable rights of man.  Even more, we look back in awe at their determination and sacrifice. 
It was 230 years ago today that 56 men came together in the city of Philadelphia to make a decision that would change the course of history -- to assert the right of the people in the American colonies to govern themselves.  As these men stepped up to the table to sign the piece of paper before them, they knew that this decision carried consequences -- that it could cost them their lives, the lives of their loved ones, their possessions, their prosperity.    In fact, the last sentence of the Declaration stated:  "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."  Fully aware of the gravity of the moment, each made an individual decision to stand for liberty, to stand for freedom, to stand for democracy, and to stand for justice in a society they would rule themselves.

Our founding fathers assumed responsibilities to secure rights.  This assumption of responsibility is fundamental to a system of government in which free people hold the power of self-rule.  Such responsibility is also fundamental to the participation of democratic governments in the international community.  Today, the United States is working with our democratic friends such as The Bahamas to ensure that people, the world over, secure their inalienable rights to live freely, to choose their leaders in free elections, to think, worship, read, write, and meet together freely.
 
Worldwide more and more people are enjoying these fundamental freedoms -- now enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  But even here in the Caribbean, full enjoyment of basic human rights continues to elude many.  Today, as in 1776, men and women of conviction are still standing up to dictators, putting their lives on the line for freedom.

True to the principles of our founding fathers, the United States will continue to stand up for people in this region and throughout the world -- until people everywhere enjoy the core elements of human dignity:  freedom to choose their government, a free press, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, and freedom of worship.

This past year witnessed an important advance of freedom in the Caribbean region as the people of Haiti turned out in great numbers to elect a new government.  We saw the international community come together to assist Haiti -- a multinational support network that must continue.  We have also seen Haiti welcomed back into CARICOM, a vital step towards its redevelopment and its participation in the worldwide community of democracies.

In Haiti and elsewhere in the region, the United States stands ready to work with the people and governments to uphold and strengthen their freedoms.    Few regions of the world have such a strong democratic tradition, and it is only fitting we work together to share our values with other countries where these internationally accepted rights have yet to take root.  We must never forget the courage of those visionaries of 230 years ago who could have played it safe, but who instead stood up for their beliefs and proclaimed them proudly for the entire world to hear. 

Nowhere in the United States today is resolve and courage more evident than in the people of New Orleans.  This 4^th of July I am delighted to be able to celebrate this proud region of the United States -- world-renowned for its love of life, love of laughter and music, and a heart strong enough to bring it back.  As I mentioned earlier, we are honored to have with us today some of New Orleans heroes -- the Zydeco Hellraisers -- who have traveled far to share the vibrant sounds of Louisiana with us.

In celebrating New Orleans, we also recognize true friendship.  After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States, I was deeply impressed by the sense of shared grief and solidarity and the incredible outpouring of support by the people of The Bahamas.  In the hardest times, one must rely on one’s values and on one’s true friends.  So today, we also celebrate our friendship.

Thank you for joining us this evening as we remember the founding of our country.  As we remember those who gave their lives for us to be free.  As we remember those who still fight for basic freedoms.  Thank you for sharing in our 230th celebration of our independence!  Happy Independence Day!