Universal Church removes Pastor after parking dispute sparks public outrage

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Guyana has removed one of its Pastors following a public confrontation on Monday over parking on Charlotte Street, Georgetown, an incident that has drawn widespread attention and prompted an official apology from the church’s leadership.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the president of the Universal Church in Guyana, Pastor Dillipchan Bikharie, said the behaviour displayed by the Pastor and several congregants was “unbecoming” and not aligned with the church’s principles. He noted that the Board convened to review its internal conduct policies before deciding to relieve the Pastor of his duties.
“The Pastor is no longer associated with the Board of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Guyana,” the release stated, adding that a video apology was issued to the nation for the misconduct.
The Board also stressed that it could not act unilaterally and that disciplinary measures required a formal meeting. It apologised to President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Cabinet members, parliamentarians, religious leaders, and the wider public.
The disciplinary action follows an incident on Monday in which a confrontation occurred between the Pastor and a driver over parking outside the church at Charlotte and Wellington Streets, Georgetown. The matter escalated after the Pastor claimed the church had reserved parking in the area.
Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore has since refuted those claims, stating that the church never applied for, was never granted, and was never considered for any reserved parking by the council.
“This council has never given the Universal Church any parking. No parking facility was ever applied for… It was very erroneous for the Pastor to speak so vociferously about ‘reserved parking’,” Mentore said.
The City Engineer’s Department visited the location during the incident and removed encumbrances placed by the church to restrict public parking. Mentore added that only a limited number of entities, such as embassies and the Bank of Guyana, are granted reserved parking privileges.