Rain couldn’t dampen the spirit of reconciliation yesterday.

Students from Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School and Saltus performed music and drama in front of the assembled guests at the Imagine Bermuda 2009 event where more than 100 people gathered — despite intermittent showers.

The group hopes to get Bermudians working together for a better Island by 2009.

Imagine Bermuda 2009 began in 2004 and is a community initiative aiming to lay the foundations for the 400th anniversary of the settling of the Island.

Yesterday, the group honoured the late Margaret Carter, who championed the rights of the disabled; Canon Thomas Nisbett, who promoted reconciliation during the General Strike of 1981; and, Bishop Vernon Byrd, who served as minister of St. Paul’s AME Church during the 1960s and played a key reconciliatory role during the 1959 dock workers’ strike and the 1965 Belco strike.

Imagine Bermuda 2009 co-chairman Glenn Fubler said the contributions of all three highlighted the themes of his group — release, reconcile, renew.

Quoting Nelson Mandela he said: “‘To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others’. I hope that people will take inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s words and the three individuals we are honouring today.”

Ron Lightbourne paid tribute to Ms Carter who dedicated her life to raising awareness about disabled people and championed the Anti-Apartheid movement. She died in 1992.

Gene Steede paid tribute to Canon Nisbett who was the first black Anglican priest in Bermuda and went to organise lunch time prayers during the 1981 General Strike, which has been credited with keeping the strike peaceful.

There was also a special dramatisation by two veteran news broadcasters, Wendy Davis Johnson and Leo Mills, which highlighted Bishop Vernon Byrd efforts in the 1959 dock workers strike.

The group has been particularly active this year, holding many events to mark the 200th anniversary of the end of the slave trade, the 16th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release and the historic launch of a Reconciliation Government in Northern Ireland. For more information about the group visit www.imaginebermuda.bm.