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 today.At a gathering hosted by the Imagine Bermuda organization at City Hall, the Governor recounted meeting Mandela 20 years ago and the feeling that the elder statesman “genuinely 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 Mandela’s motto that “others will not save us if we do not primarily commit ourselve”.John Barritt, leader of the One Bermuda Alliance, told the gathering that 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”.The ceremony also heard from St George’s Cricket Club president Neil Paynter and Thaqqib Talbott of the group Footballers for Peace, who both linked the example of Nelson Mandela and 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 1980’s who was joined by a group of small children in a cheery rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ for Mandela.