TRIBUTE will be paid to South African leader Nelson Mandela at a special “Release, Reconcile and Renew” initiative at City Hall on May 10.Organised by Imagine Bermuda 2009, the purpose of the initiative is to use Mr. Mandela as an example of how Bermudians, each in their own way, can bring peace to personal relationships.

Mr. Mandela’s achievements will be recognised at the lunchtime event where specially-designed “peace cards”, featuring Mr. Mandela’s image and a famous quote, will be distributed.

“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,” Mr. Mandela said following his release from prison in 1990.

Imagine Bermuda 2009 organiser, Michael Ashton hoped people would give the cards to those they had a grievance with and in this way, take the first step towards forgiveness and reconciliation.

He said the aim of Imagine Bermuda 2009 is to help build a better Bermuda and reconciliation was an important part of this.

The peace cards will also be available free of charge from post offices, the Bank of Bermuda, Chewstick, Bermuda Library, Esso and Shell Stations and churches.

To help Imagine Bermuda 2009 with ideas on future reconciliation programmes, Mr. Ashton called in the help of a local psychologist, Dr. EK Rodrigo and the vice-president of the Bermuda Psychological Association, Dr. Melissa Gibbons Tankard.

“Mandela has shared with us how he moved through his personal process of change; change from anger, fear and hatred to compassion, benevolence and love,” Dr. Gibbons Tankard said.’

“His message is one of hope for all who find themselves imprisoned by their own anger and bitterness.

“His life experiences must never be in vain.

“Forgiveness comes back like a boomerang to the one who throws it out to others.”

Dr. Rodrigo added that forgiving someone, either in person or in writing, was one of the fundamental necessities in achieving happiness in life.

Originally from Sri-Lanka, Dr. Rodrigo said the reconciliation process failed in his country which was torn apart by violence.

He said despite the tensions in Bermuda, it was one of the last paradises left in the world and warned Bermudians to “guard it jealously.