The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

POLICE last night denied reports of growing tensions between Bahamians and persons of Haitian descent in Abaco.

The vehicular assault of a man of Haitian descent just hours after the murder of another Abaco resident has led some residents to believe that the two incidents are related.

However last night, Central Detective Unit chief Paul Rolle said the stabbing death of the 59-year-old Abaconian is believed to be the result of a dispute amongst friends.

He confirmed that a 38-year-old Bahamian of Haitian descent is assisting police with their investigations into the country's 27th killing for the year.

The 59-year-old Dundas Town resident was found in the area of the Road Traffic Department, Crockett Drive and Bay Street sometime around 2.30pm Saturday. He died of his injuries at the Marsh Harbour Clinic.

Mr Rolle said: "We have a Haitian Bahamian resident of the Mud in custody. The (murder) victim was a Bahamian."

"The victim was involved in a fight and he was stabbed to the neck."

Another resident of the Mud was struck by a car less than three hours later; however, Mr Rolle maintained that the two incidents were separate crimes.

He added: "The two incidents are not related. We have tensions between Bahamians and Bahamians everywhere. Everywhere you have people, you have tension, sometimes you have a fight. There is no reason to believe there is any ethnic tension going on there, that was a completely different incident."

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

A team of investigators from Nassau are on the island assisting local police, Mr Rolle said.

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