Latest update February 19th, 2026 12:40 AM
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Reg. 9 Community Relations Officer charged with tourist guide’s murder
(Kaieteur News) – A 49-year-old Community Relations Officer of Region Nine was on Wednesday charged with the murder of Rupununi tour guide Leon Baird called ‘Rasta’.
Dead: Leon ‘Rasta’ Baird
Charged: Ken Faria
The accused, Ken Faria of Culvert City, Central Rupununi, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty where the charge was read to him.
He was not required to plead to the charge which alleges that between January 23 and January 26, 2026 at Wichabai, South Central Rupununi he murdered Baird.
Faria was remanded to prison and is expected to return to court on March 31, 2026.
Baird’s body was found on January 25 between Wichabai Ranch and Sand Creek Village. He was reported missing two days earlier after leaving the Wichabai Ranch where he lived and worked as a caretaker.
Baird’s colleagues disclosed that before his death some of the animals he cared for on the ranch went missing. As a result, they suspect that on January 23 he left in search of the animals.
Further, the deceased’s colleagues told Kaieteur News that cattle rustling has been a major issue for years and the matter was reported to the police on numerous occasions.
“This rustling thing has been going on down here in the Rupununi for so many years and so many reports have been made to the police from ranches not just our ranch, villages, individuals and from the South Rupununi District Council for years, about the same people who are going around and killing animals and selling the meat to Lethem,” one of Baird’s colleagues explained.
Additionally, Kaieteur News was told that Baird was threatened by persons suspected to be rustlers.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a statement dated January 30 noted that investigators discovered the remains of two cows near where Braid’s body was recovered. It is suspected the animals were shot.
“Items of evidential value, including a knife and spent shotgun shells, were recovered and lodged as part of ongoing examinations,” the police said in a statement.
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