WHILE CIVIL society groups and politicians are calling for  the heads of the director, the board and administrators  of Social Security,  officials whose jobs could be on the line, are defending the cost of hosting the World Social Security  Forum.

Sergio Alemán, Social Security's director of planning, said that the objective of the entity was to be austere in spending for the event.

Alemán also insisted that the cost would be shared with the International Social Security Association.

Officials from more than 150 countries will attend the event, which began Sunday  at the Westin Playa Bonita.

[caption id="attachment_65683" align="alignleft" width="341"] La Prensa cartoonist Vic's take on the CSS problem and the embattled director[/caption]

Comptroller Federico Humbert has filed a complaint over the $2.1 million contract granted to the company Festieventos, S. A., for the organization of the event. Alemán said the agency is prepared to defend its decision.

Rubén Darío López Barragán, Social Security's deputy director, said that this event will actually have a net benefit for the country.

So far President Juan Carlos Varela is sitting on his hands