Region 9 community relations officer charged with tour guide’s murder

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 22:00 by Writer

A 49-year-old man of Culvert City, Central Rupununi was on Wednesday charged with the murder of well-known tour guide Leon “Rasta” Baird.

Police said Ken Faria, a community relations officer, was remanded to prison until March 31.

Baird was allegedly murdered between January 23 and January 25, 2026, at Wichabai, South Central Rupununi.

Faria appeared on Wednesday, February 18 at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, where the charge of murder was read to him.

Faria was not required to plead.

The Guyana Police Force had already said the partially charred human remains of Baird, 38, of St. Ignatius Village, Rupununi were found in a burnt vehicle along the eastern bank of the Rupununi River in close proximity to Wichabai Ranch, South Rupununi on Sunday, January 25.

The remains were removed and transported to the Lethem Regional Hospital, police added.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Tuesday, January 27, by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh gave the cause of death as burns and indicated that the victim was alive prior to the fire, police said in its statement.