Forum price tag slashed in secret deal

THE WORLD Social Security Forum, hosted by Panama, began and ended  with criticism over its, $2.1 million price tag .
The same day that the Office of the Comptroller General filed a lawsuit over the contract for organizing the event, Friday Nov 18,  Social Security Director Estivenson Giron opted to cancel the agreement that had been awarded to the company Festieventos.

During the  week, and in  complete secrecy, the entity issued another contract to Festieventos .

But the amount was down $600,000 to$1.5 million,

Giron said the lower cost was due to changes that were made in the event and because fewer officials attended than originally thought.

He has consistently defended the contract and civic groups have called for his head along with the reignations of the board of directors and Social Security(CSS) administrators.