By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

POLICE in Abaco have moved quickly to "calm tensions" after a Bahamian man was allegedly stabbed to death by a man of Haitian descent on Saturday.

Superintendent Noel Curry, Abaco police chief said officers on the island apprehended a suspect within hours of the murder, easing any tensions that may have risen

"We had a suspect in custody within the hour of the incident and we are feeling very good with the investigation. In terms of the tension between the Bahamian and Haitian communities, in any society where there is integration of different cultures there is tension and conflict now and then and in Abaco it is no different.

"Generally it is nothing major, just small things here and there. We know that there have been matters in the past where there were incidents between the two groups. That is why we moved fast to make an arrest," he said.

"In this case, I do not think the murder was about Haitian Bahamian issues, it was just two people fighting and one stabbed the other.

"It just so happened that the one doing the stabbing was Haitian and the victim was Bahamian.

"Once we do our jobs as officers on the island, we are able to stop any situation from happening between the two groups. It's a small community and everyone knows we made an arrest. Therefore we are pretty confident the tension has eased. If there was any to begin with."

Supt Curry said police will not release the identity of the victim, until the body is officially identified, however the Tribune understands he is 59-year-old Wendell Miller.

Mr Miller was found in the area of the Road Traffic Department, Crockett Drive and Bay Street sometime around 2.30pm Saturday.

According to reports, he was in an argument with a man whom he knew and was stabbed in the neck as a result. He died of his injuries at the Marsh Harbour Clinic.

A 38-year-old Bahamian of Haitian descent is assisting police with their investigations.

Abaco police are also investigating the vehicular assault of a man of Haitian descent just hours after the murder.

The victim was struck by a white coloured crown Victoria on Queen Elizabeth Drive, Marsh Harbour.

He was airlifted to hospital after receiving serious injuries sometime after 5.30pm.

Police are questioning a 32-year-old Murphy Town man in connection with the incident, which they have classified as an assault with a deadly weapon.

Anyone who may have relevant information that might assist the investigations are asked to contact police at 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 328-TIPS.