Francis-Edie new head of Child Development Agency

Former registrar at the Office of the Children's Registry, Carla Francis-Edie, took charge as chief executive officer at the Child Development Agency (CDA) on July 1.

The position was made vacant after former CDA boss Alison Anderson-McLean stepped down in March, ending a six-year tenure marked by stinging criticisms of her performance.

The most recent was a damning report on the fire at the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre in May 2009, which left seven girls dead and several others injured.

Late last year, executive director of Jamaicans for Justice, Dr Carolyn Gomes, called for Anderson-McLean's resignation, arguing that she had failed to overhaul the CDA.

Horror stories

Gomes said the findings of abuse at children's homes from 2005-2006 were horrific, and recommendations were made, with several promises going unfulfilled.

Jamaicans for Justice had also accused Anderson-McLean of not presenting the truth in a report to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The position had been advertised for the vacancy to be filled.