MP hits back at political attacks in district

Public Accounts Committee chairman and Bogia MP, John Hickey said issues affecting the Bogia health centre were administration matters.
He said issues reported early this week on Bogia was a political attack on him.
He said there was an organised group holding public forums in the district and raising issues affecting his political leadership in the electorate.
Hickey said he was a three-term MP for the district because he was delivering government services in the rural parts of Bogia.
“Those people complaining were the ones living in Bogia station,” Hickey said. “Those living in the rural areas are benefiting.”
Bogia people have wanted Hickey to come out openly and explain what development plans he had for the district.
They claimed public servants’ house, police and health centre buildings had rundown and needed immediate help by Hickey to fix and build.
There were instances of health workers using mobile phones to deliver babies.
He said he had plans this year to fix the rundown infrastructure and restore water and power supplies in the district.
Hickey said he had bought a generator for Bogia Hospital few years ago but that was reported stolen by a female health officer who was serving at the health centre at that time.
“I have plans to build 10 new houses for public servants at Bogia station, while the other 10 undergo full maintenance,” he said.
Hickey said he bought a ship for Manam islanders for K68,000 and it was now docked at the Binnen slipway in Madang.
‘Maus Bogia’ a local group known to Hickey as the pressure group, will be holding another open forum next Friday.