finally kicked off last night -- but not without one final mishap.

More than 60 guests, far fewer than originally expected, flew in from the US, the Caribbean and Africa for the week-long series of seminars and discussions.

But the vast majority missed the first event on the itinerary -- a welcoming concert in Victoria Park -- after their flight from the US was delayed for several hours. (Picture: Page 6) Mayor of Hamilton William Frith was on hand to welcome the overseas guests at the concert, which climaxed with a special Gombey performance.

Mayors meeting begins Mr. Frith was then due to host a banquet for all the visitors at City Hall.

Newly appointed Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister and Governor Thorold Masefield were on the guest list.

They were joined by Mayor Mamadou Diop, who has travelled from Dakar, Senegal, Washington-based National Black Youth Leadership Council director Dennis Watson and a host of African American mayors and black leaders.

World Conference of Mayors founder Johnny Ford was delighted that the event was finally underway and promised a very productive conference.

"People were saying that we shouldn't come, that we should postpone it, but we couldn't afford to do that and we're just delighted to be here at last,'' he said.

"We have about 60 or 70 delegates here, although more are on their way -- we should have a final figure of about 100.

"That might be a little disappointing but this is going to be one of the best conferences ever simply because of the quality of people who are coming.'' The conference looked to be in jeopardy when organisers the Afro American Global Trade and Tourism Council threatened to sue the Department of Tourism over a sponsorship row. The department eventually agreed to take on the role of conference promoter, spending $100,000 on an advertising campaign in the US.

But AAGTTC president Bonnie Marshall still claims the department broke an agreement between the two parties and is still believed to be pushing ahead with her legal action.

During the week-long conference, delegates will discuss trade and tourism opportunities between their respective cities and also examine the possibility of town twinning.

Government MP and Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess kicks off the itinerary later today with a meeting with various officials representing unions overseas.

Premier Jennifer Smith will be guest of honour at a luncheon and official opening of the conference this afternoon at the Elbow Beach Hotel.