By Joseph Guyler Delva From Haitian-Caribbean News Network

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (HCNN) – The Haitian government vowed on Monday to work relentlessly at recapturing gang leader, Clifford Brandt, who escaped from prison Sunday after a mutiny broke out in a prison outside the capital, where he was held for kidnapping and other serious crimes.

First, the High Council of the National Police (CSPN) met Sunday with representatives of the US Marshals, of security entities from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and UN peacekeeping Mission in Haiti to exchange on the possible transnational ramifications of the escape.

An emergency cell to oversee search and prosecution operations was set up at the Ministry of Justice, radio and TV spots will air in the state and private media, pictures of Clifford Brandt are being distributed in police stations and in different locations across the country, authorities said.

“We will spare no effort to find the escaped prisoners and all measures have been taken to support the police in the search for Clifford Brandt and other escapees,” said Laurent Lamo the to HCNN Monday, late in the evening, as he oversaw research operations with Ministers of Justice and Interior, and the Chief of Police.

“We made so many efforts to fight crime, dismantle gangs that have caused so much harm to the society and we will not give up the fight,” said Lamothe.

The Haitian Prime Minister urges all members of the police and other relevant entities to redouble their efforts to recapture the escapees and continue to rout criminal gangs.

“After so many efforts to establish such a significantlevel of security in the country, we will not allow banditsto rebound,” said Lamothe. “We’re asking the population to continue to trust the CSPN and the police who are determined to thwart the plan of the criminals.

Police chief, Godson Orélus, said more than 300inmates escaped on Sunday and assured that measures were being put in place to recapture them.

“There were 899 prisoners inside the prison following the escape, 570 inmates responded at the headcount,”Orélus told the Haitian-Carbbean News Network (HCNN) on Monday. “This means that over 300 fled, but we’ll do all we can to recapture them” he said.

Brandt was arrested and detained in October 2012. He escaped Sunday from the civil prison of Croix-de-Bouquets in conditions that still raise questions as to whether it was an inside job.

A reward of 1 million gourdes (about 22,000 USD) is promised to anyone who would allow the police to re-arrest fugitive Brandt. A special telephone line (3-838-1111) has been set up to facilitate the task for all those who wish to provide information about the movements or place of refuge for escapees.

Prime Minister Lamo the and the police have already announced interim measures, including isolation, against some members of the police, responsible for guarding the prisoners, whose behavior was inexplicable.

Steps have been taken to strengthen supervision on theHaitian-Dominican border and the border free zone market place has been suspended to facilitate better control over cross-border movement.

Prime Minister Lamothe, the Minister of Justice, JeanRenel Sanon, the Interior Minister, Reginald Delva,Police Chief, Godson Orélus, and other executives of the Prime Minister met late Sunday evening to determine strategies likely to facilitate the recapture of the escapees.

Regular press briefings will be held on progress made in the search, while a high level committee of inquiry was conceived to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the escape.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe (right) and Minister of Interior Reginald Delva on the field supervising search operations late Sunday night to Monday morning

For more on this story go to: http://hcnn.ht/en/2014_08/politics/346/Government-mobilizing-all-efforts-to-capture-fugitive-Clifford-Brandt-Haiti-Clifford-Brandt-Laurent-Lamothe-Godson-Orélus-Prison.htm