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CDA head in the host seat
Thursday, 18 February 2010
The Parliamentary Committee examining the report of the Office of the Children's Advocate on Thursday flayed the Head of the Child Development Agency (CDA), Allison Anderson-McLean, about the continued practice of holding of children in Adult Correctional institutions.
But Mrs. Anderson-McLeans's defence drew the ire of members at Thusday morning's sitting.
It was government Senator Hyacinth Bennett who first raised the question of what is being done about housing children in adult correctional institutions.
"I don't run the correctional centres" Mrs. Anderson McLean said.
"Come again?" said Senator Bennett.
To which Mrs. Anderson-McLean responded "The Child Development Agency doesn't run the correctional centres."
"My I just say something here?'" Mrs. Bennett asked.
"I have enough basic understanding to know that the CDA does not run the correctional centres and there's really no need for that sort of response however, I am speaking out of a deep concern that for years we hear all these speeches about children being placed in all these places and I want to know what is being done to ensure that our children, regardless of their socio-economic background, do not continue to be placed in correctional centres with adult criminals" Senator Bennett said.
Allison Anderson-McLean.Mrs. Anderson-McLean then apologised for her response but this was not enough to quell the high emotions about the issue.
Marissa Dalrymple-Philibert, committee Chairman made her feelings clear on the matter stating that the CDA needed to do much more to push this cause.
More questions were fired at Mrs. Anderson-McLean who responded by pointing out the limited resources she said were made available to the CDA.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
The Parliamentary Committee examining the report of the Office of the Children's Advocate on Thursday flayed the Head of the Child Development Agency (CDA), Allison Anderson-McLean, about the continued practice of holding of children in Adult Correctional institutions.
But Mrs. Anderson-McLeans's defence drew the ire of members at Thusday morning's sitting.
It was government Senator Hyacinth Bennett who first raised the question of what is being done about housing children in adult correctional institutions.
"I don't run the correctional centres" Mrs. Anderson McLean said.
"Come again?" said Senator Bennett.
To which Mrs. Anderson-McLean responded "The Child Development Agency doesn't run the correctional centres."
"My I just say something here?'" Mrs. Bennett asked.
"I have enough basic understanding to know that the CDA does not run the correctional centres and there's really no need for that sort of response however, I am speaking out of a deep concern that for years we hear all these speeches about children being placed in all these places and I want to know what is being done to ensure that our children, regardless of their socio-economic background, do not continue to be placed in correctional centres with adult criminals" Senator Bennett said.
Allison Anderson-McLean.Mrs. Anderson-McLean then apologised for her response but this was not enough to quell the high emotions about the issue.
Marissa Dalrymple-Philibert, committee Chairman made her feelings clear on the matter stating that the CDA needed to do much more to push this cause.
More questions were fired at Mrs. Anderson-McLean who responded by pointing out the limited resources she said were made available to the CDA.
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