The five, Mark Fraser, Andrew Douglas, Shawn Brown, Troy Dick and Dale Moore, all linked to the notorious `Blackie' criminal gang had hijacked cars in their daring and well-planned escape.

The slain Prison Officer, Troy Williams, 21, was buried with full military honours on Friday in his hometown, Stanleytown, Berbice, while Woman Prison Officer, Roxanne Whinfield who was shot in the head, was up to yesterday still hooked up to a life-saving machine in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Doctors and nurses continued to carefully monitor her condition.

In the course of the on-going investigations, the police had pulled in a number of prison officers and civilians for questioning in relation to the jailbreak.

Up to late last week, five of them, a Prison Officer, two female employees of the GPHC and a brother and sister of one of the escapees, Brown, were still being detained, sources had said.

In addition to a wanted bulletin which the police have put out for the notorious five, a heavy dragnet combing several areas, including backlands continues, sources said.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry over the weekend urged business people to take precautions following the jailbreak.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon last week urged citizens to be alert and take extra security measures with the armed and dangerous five-man gang still at large.

Luncheon said the Joint Services, which comprises the Guyana Prison Service, the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, assessed the situation last week and citizens are urged to increase security measures.

"It seems that the place of operation of this apparently reformed gang is Georgetown and its environs. The Joint Services feel that this is an extremely dangerous gang and that citizens of Georgetown and its environs should be alert and cautious and sensitive to the need for increased security", he said.

In a statement the Georgetown Chamber said it was extremely concerned about the crime situation in the country especially in light of the recent jailbreak.

It warned Guyanese, particularly businessmen, to observe all possible precautions.

The notorious `Blackie' criminal ring was led by Linden `Blackie' London who was shot dead when he was cornered in a Police-Army operation in an Eccles, East Bank Demerara guest house in February 1999.

`Blackie', a former soldier who absconded from the Army, had led his band on a killing and robbery rampage for years.

The Commission appointed to conduct an inquiry into the daring daylight jailbreak began its work last week.

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, now Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, Mr. Cecil Kennard is heading the team.