On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I join the families, communities, and leaders of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in celebrating their country’s Golden Jubilee anniversary of independence.

The United States and Guyana are bound together by our shared democratic values and our common interests in ensuring prosperity, stability, and security throughout our hemisphere. And our partnership has yielded tangible results on issues of vital importance to both our nations.

This year, we strengthened our relationship in law enforcement training, port safety, justice sector reform, and coast guard cooperation through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. We worked together to diversify energy resources and expand investments in sustainable energy projects through the recent U.S.-Caribbean-Central American Energy Summit.

At the same time, we have acted to create opportunities for vulnerable Guyanese youth through the efforts of USAID. And we have deepened people-to-people ties between our countries through initiatives to build bridges between American and Guyanese universities, and to dismantle barriers to study abroad for our students.

Fifty years after independence, the citizens and government of Guyana can count on the friendship and support of the United States as, together, we address our common challenges and build a future of peace and progress for our peoples.