Parking blowup: bold, honest leadership manifested

Nov 24, 2025 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

---

(Kaieteur News) – The Universal Church in Guyana leadership reacted authoritatively and vigorously on that parking incident that developed around the old Strand Cinema, and which that involved one of their pastors.

It was ugly, it was in the face, and it could have developed into one of those cases of parking rage gone out of control.  Now the Universal Church board took matters into its own hands and spoke with the thunder of heaven.

The pastor is disqualified from further ministering in Guyana.  Removed.  Gone, and sent packing, and no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  Decisive and unsparing: get thee away from the pulpit and be done with anymore preaching to the flock in Guyana.  Disqualifying has to be a hard decision made under difficult circumstances, and even in its least significance it has to be impactful on the pastor and those in the pews.  Ministering is a wide word in the Christian community.

It could mean teaching, visiting, and counseling members of the flock that are in need of such help.  But it is what leaders who are interested in change for the better, determined to make amends, make it their duty to listen to and to do.  I wish it were so outside of that church, in the halls of governance, where there is admission of human lapse.

My first reaction was I am privy to a commendable instance of leadership taking action, while leaving no loose strings dangling.  This was what happened, this is what is unacceptable to the standards and principles of the leadership (and Universal Church community), and this is how it will be going forward.  How I wish that the political leadership in Guyana would take note, and be about such clear and unequivocal actions when circumstances warrant.

Not selectively, but all the time.  Not when issues and decisions are in their favor, but when they are against.  When they involve failure.  Like when ministers and other comrades cross a line.  A sexual line.  A corruption line.  A police line.  A basic standard line.  No quibbling.  No hedging.  No ducking nor pretending nor distancing and hiding.  Take ownership.  Act responsibly.  Be about what inspires others to accept that there are ways to go about difficulties, and the comportment of oneself is one of the more watched litmus tests.  The religious man is held to a higher standard.  He must defuse a situation, not contribute to its further deterioration.

I absorbed how Guyana’s Pres. Ali took his wrath public with the EU Final Report on Guyana’s 2025 elections, and his troubling reaction to a judicial ruling in the controversial Lamborghini tax case.  In the EU Final Report, the findings are based on fact, how the weight and might of the state have been misused and abused for incumbent advantage.

Neither a secret, nor an inaccuracy; not in the least.  But from Pres. Ali’s reaction, it would seem that a terrible injustice was wreaked on Guyana and his government.  I beg to differ, Mr. President.  Re the Lamborghini and the taxes due, Pres. Ali knows more than anyone as to who in his government had a hand in a decision of that magnitude, which cheated the national treasury of so many millions.  I assert it couldn’t have been, wasn’t, a junior level public service official, or a political one of low stature.  Two egregious circumstances, and yet Pres. Ali settles for the tactic that the best defense is to go on offense.  I recommend a stint in American Football.  The one where they wear helmets.

Notwithstanding the above, I would have approached differently.  The pastor had to apologize publicly, promise that his missteps wouldn’t be repeated. Plus, a short period of suspension, so that there’s self-examination and reflection.  Done in a spirit of Christlike forgiveness, true to the biblical arithmetic that was a puzzle, but what’s not a puzzle anymore, thanks to the Master Teacher.  To elaborate, how many times should I forgive an errant brother, seven times?

No! not seven times, but seven times seven.  In other words, as many times as is humanly possible.  Or, to emphasize this message: blessed are the merciful, for they shall know mercy.  Disqualifying from further involvement in ministering in Guyana is a harsh step, though it has its merits.  Set an example, draw a line, and hold that out as the standard.  Personally, I would go with the lesser, softer, gentler lash.

My hope and prayer are that the rough talking, menacingly advancing, pastor would be given a chance to restart ministering outside of Guyana, and that he seizes it with both hands, accompanied by the proper contrite spirit.  Last, Guyanese leaders admit failures.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

---

• blowup, GHK Lall, parking, Universal Church

---