Locals attack MP’s adopted son after he drives into forum

 AN adopted son of Bogia MP John Hickey, pictured, was beaten by a group of people on Friday when he tried to disturb a public forum held to castigate his father.

Hundreds of people from the Yabu, Yawar and Almami local level governments organised the forum in which they expected the MP to explain how he spent the district’s development grants from 2007 to now.

Yawar LLG president Peter Bariau said the district administration office’s front yard was packed, forcing police to close the road.

He said the forum was nearing its end when Hickey’s son, who is his executive officer, drove a vehicle into the yard with his friends on board.

They ran over the plastic cones placed by the police to stop traffic and drove into the crowd.

Bariau said the people chased the vehicle, pulled two men out and beat them.

Hicky’s son, who was driving, and the rest of his friends sped off.

Bariau said he got on a vehicle and chased them. 

He managed to force their vehicle off the road twice.

Bariau said the people who were following him on foot beat the son and his friends.

He said he wanted to set fire to the vehicle but police stopped him. 

They were later taken to the district office and counselled.

Bariau said Bogia people had reached the climax of their frustration and planned to close the administration offices.

‘’We want Hickey to explain to us how he spent our money,’’ Bariau said. He said Hickey had done nothing for the district in the past 15 years as MP.

“Can Prime Minister Peter O’Neill tell us if Bogia has a government budget?’’ Bariau asked.

“He needs to sideline Hickey as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and conduct an investigation into funds for Bogia.”

Bariau said Hickey had continued to ignore the public forum staged by the people.

Meanwhile Hickey has not been attending the Madang provincial executive and assembly meetings and is yet to be sworn in as a member of the Madang provincial assembly.

The provincial government is yet to announce his disqualification from the provincial assembly as he has already missed three consecutive assembly meetings.

Hickey could not be reached for comments.