Rev. Titus Pratt Denies Allegations Of Embezzlement

Rev. Titus K.A. Pratt, the Chairman and General Superintendent of the Methodist Mission in The Gambia has denied allegations of embezzlement levelled against him by Dee Symons, a British national and published on the front page of the Tuesday edition of this newspaper. (READ!)

Reacting to the story, Rev. Titus Pratt explained that about four years ago, the lady (Dee Symons) came to him, to introduce herself as a Methodist lay preacher from England. Pratt said Ms. Symons told him she was a nurse by profession and wanted to offer voluntary service "if we would be in need of such assistance".

"We were undergoing serious personnel problems at Marakissa, the centre of our rural health services. I consulted the Methodist minister in the Western Division and also the senior nursing sister. We agreed to have her and offered her accommodation in one of our vacant nurses' houses in our Brikama compound," he explained.

Rev. Pratt further said because of the free services Ms. Symons was offering, they did not charge her any rent. "Our agricultural project (MMAP) met the cost of water and electricity," he said.

He disclosed that in 2000, their district medical committee was dissolved to form the district medical board, charged with the responsibility of raising funds to run their clinics.

"The Board decided to rent out those medical houses in Brikama to raise funds to run the clinic. So I informed the occupants who were there at that time, including Dee Symons, that we could no longer accommodate them. Dee Symons was never happy about this change and she did not make any secret of it. The end result is what was published yesterday", he charged.

Rev. Pratt denied having ever written a letter on any occasion requesting funding from Ms. Symons. He said Symons approached him to arrange with his friends in England to sponsor her trips to The Gambia but he declined because his friends doubted her claims. "I have taken two church services in England during which funds were raised to support Dee Symons. These funds were neither paid into church accounts nor were they given to me for work in the Gambia," he said.

Mr. Pratt said Ms. Symons would be asked to produce documents on the container reportedly shipped from England for The Gambia which he (Pratt) allegedly diverted to Ghana.

He said the computers referred to went to schools mainly, Gambia Methodist Academy, Mr. George Dunn, some to Core Comprehensive School in Jeshwang, Mandinaring Middle School, through an American peace corps. He said some went to his office, a complete set to Brikama education office and some individuals to whom some of the computers were designated.

Rev. Pratt said Ms. Symons was not one of them and the only computer designated for Ghana was meant for the daughter of Mrs. Jill Stedman's former housekeeper. "The medical items, RVH administration, Marakissa Methodist clinic, Basse health centre will respond to those wild claims," Pratt pointed out. He said every single item was collected by the recipients. Rev. Pratt also denied that there had been any money for the restoration of the Janjanbureh Methodist Chapel and said those funding the project are currently on their way to The Gambia. "Perhaps Dee will indicate to us at the appropriate place when she gave me the 12,000 pounds for work on that building," he stressed. Rev. added that the question of her dresses which were sold at Brikama market have nothing to do with the Methodist Mission or him. The dresses were given to the auxiliary nurses at the clinics.

Rev. Pratt alleged that Dee Symons "is being hosted by the very persons who have vowed to make his life miserable until he park and leave The Gambia".

The letter From Rev. Titus Pratt

Dear Sir,

The lady who came to your office with that information, Dee Symons, came to me one Sunday morning about four years ago I think, to introduce herself to me as a Methodist Lay Preacher from England. She also said that she was by profession a nurse and wanted to offer voluntary service if we would be in need of such assistance.

We were undergoing serious personnel problems at Marakissa, the center of our rural health services. I consulted the Methodist Minister in the Western Division and also the Senior Nursing Sister. We agreed to have her and offered her accommodation in one of our vacant nurses houses on our Brikama compound. Because she was offering free services, we did not charge her any rent. Our agricultural project (MMAP) met the cost of water and electricity. In 2000 our District Medical Committee was dissolved to form the District Medical Board, charged with the responsibility of raising funds to run our clinics.

The Board decided to rent out those medical houses in Brikama to raise funds to run the clinic, so I informed the occupants who were three at that time, including Dee Symons, that we could no longer accommodate them. Dee Symons was never happy about this change and she did not make any secret of it. The end result is what was published yesterday.

I have never on any occasion written requesting for funding from Ms. Symons. She approached me to arrange with my friends in England to sponsor her trips to The Gambia. This was declined because my friends doubted her claims. I have taken two Church Services in England during which funds were raised to support Dee Symons. These funds were never paid into Church accounts, neither were they given to me for work in The Gambia.

Ms. Symons will be asked to produce documents on the container shipped from England for The Gambia which I diverted to Ghana. The mentioned computers went to schools mainly, Gambia Methodist Academy, a quantity meant for Mr. George Dunn, some to Core Comprehensive School at Joshuang, Mandinarine Middle School, through an American Peace Corps. Some were used in my office, laptops to students from Kombo Western Division, a complete set to Brikama Education Office and some individual persons, to whom some were designated by those who donated the used computers.

Ms. Symons was not one of them. The only computer designated for Ghana is meant for the daughter of Mrs. Jill Stedman's former house keeper. That computer is still here in my office, not sent yet.

On the medical items, RVH administration, Marakissa Methodist Clinic, Basse Health Centre will respond to those wild claims. Every single item was collected by the recipients. A quantity of crutches, artificial limbs, walking sticks and wheel chairs all went to the Social Welfare Department, Banjul. For Basse it went through the Roman Catholic Mission.

Our friends in England who assist us with our medical services provided funds to build a new clinic and a chapel for Makumbaya (behind the airport). This was completed, opened and dedicated early this year. The donors were present. The same people provided funding to renovate the Jiboro clinic, the Marakissa nutrition unit and a new clinic for Sohm. These have all been completed and are offering medical services to the people in those areas. In the CRD funding was provided for a new Minister's house. This is nearing completion.

Some ladies from England, who visit The Gambia annually, provided money to build a new Learning Centre on the island. This building is completed, we are left with the toilets to finish by the end of this year. The furniture for the Learning Centre is being made by Gengam Technical Services of 20 J.R. Forster Street, Banjul.

On the North Bank at Banni (CRD) a chapel building is currently under construction, funded by friends. Dee Symons is not connected in any way with any of these projects.

Coincidentally the ladies from England who are funding the Janjanbureh projects, are currently on the way to The Gambia. They will spend a whole week in Janjanbureh with further assistance. There has not been any money for the restauration of the Janjanbureh Methodist Chapel. We started three years ago with attempts to raise funds to repair that building. We have not succeeded so far. Perhaps Dee will indicate to us at the appropriate place when she gave me the ?12,000 for work on that building.

The question of her dresses which were sold on the Brikama market have nothing to do with the Methodist Mission nor me. She gave those dresses to the Auxiliary Nurses at the clinic.

Finally it is interesting to note that Dee Symons is being hosted by the very persons who have vowed to make my life miserable until I park and leave The Gambia. I wish to assure members of the Methodist Church and the general public that I am not perfect, but I know that I am in God's service and nothing will frustrate my determination to make the Methodist Mission better and ready for Autonomy. I am not ambitious to head the Autonomous Church. Whenever my services are no longer required, I will return where I came from and will be welcomed, because I did not escape from any shameful act to find refuge in a foreign land.

I am grateful to all who have phoned and called me personally, to express dismay and sympathy.

Please Mr. Editor, Malick Mboob's last words "Rev. Pratt also alleged that Ms. Symons was being instigated by some people fighting for his position" are not my words.

Thank you.

Rev. Titus K.A. Pratt
Chairman and General Superintendent
Methodist Church The Gambia