Governor Sir Richard Gozney hailed Nelson Mandela’s humility and commitment to principles as he and other local dignitaries honoured the former South African President on his 93rd birthday yesterday.At a gathering hosted by the Imagine Bermuda organisation at City Hall, the Governor recounted meeting Mr Mandela 20 years ago.He said he had the feeling that the elder statesman “cares about everyone he comes across”.The Governor was joined in his praise by Minister of Community Development Michael Weeks, who called Mr Mandela “a great and noble man” whose example all Bermudians should follow.“His name is synonymous with strength, resilience and peace,” said Mr Weeks, who quoted approvingly Mr Mandela’s motto that “others will not save us if we do not primarily commit ourselves”.John Barritt, leader of the One Bermuda Alliance, told the gathering that Mr Mandela was “more than just a man. He is a symbol for the struggle for justice, equality and dignity”.Mr Barritt read passages from Mr Mandela’s book ‘Conversations with Myself’, and referred to him as “not only a man of our time, but I believe a man for all times”.Glenn Fubler, founder of Imagine Bermuda, said the celebration provided an “opportunity for bringing residents together to highlight the capacity of the human spirit”.He added that it was fitting to honour Mr Mandela in the same month as the anniversaries of Emancipation and the Theatre Boycott, events that he said embodied ideals of peace and freedom.St George’s Cricket Club president Neil Paynter and Thaqqib Talbot of the group Footballers for Peace also spoke at the ceremony.They linked the example set by Mr Mandela with the need for peace and unity in Bermuda.Following the speeches, the crowd was regaled by singer Gene Steede a veteran of the Bermudian anti-apartheid movement of the 1980s and a group of children in a cheery rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.