Bermuda joined some 120 countries to pay tribute to the late Nelson Mandela in a variety of ways on Friday.

And in a gathering organised by the group Imagine Bermuda, it came in the form of a round-table discussion at Cathedral Hall which was attended by some 50 residents including Lisa Reed of the Human Rights Commission, former Bermuda Industrial Union leader Ottiwell Simmons, schoolchildren and those who had met the former South African president.

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon had urged Global citizens to “ ... celebrate this day, by helping to address some of the problems in our communities”.

Imagine Bermuda spokesman Glen Fubler said the discussion had featured “a dramatic piece by 11 year-old head-student of Saltus Primary, X’achela Robinson, who read her biographical sketch of Mandela, that she had so wisely crafted. She received a standing ovation.”

Several recalled how Mandela had influenced their lives.

Mr Simmons said that Mandela’s legacy was one of ‘moral leadership’, recalling how he was brought to tears when he had watched Mandela emerge from prison on Sunday morning of in February, 1990.

Dianna Kempe reported on how she had the opportunity to work closely with Mandela when she was representing the International Bar Association at a conference in South Africa in 1996.

Mr Fubler remembered the period of early ‘80s when not many were aware of the cause of South Africa, but that patient persistence led to an increased momentum. He suggested that Mandela’s legacy of being able to ‘disagree without being disagreeable’ and his capacity to mindfully master his ego, gave the iconic leader the significant leverage in his role of facilitating the transformation of the ‘Rainbow Nation’.

Martha Dismont suggested that in her view Mandela’s most significant contribution was that ‘love’ be the means for addressing any and all challenges in society. She expressed the view that this pertained to matters relating to family or those addressing wider social and political issues.

The session was closed with attendees “reflecting on the potential that each of us have to be the change that we wish to see in Bermuda and the world,” said Mr Fubler. “We committed to repeat the exercise of the round-table, in other venues in the Island in the not-too-distant future.”