As the hunt intensifies for the five prisoners who escaped from the Camp Street jail on Mash Day, efforts are underway for coordinating the work of joint service intelligence agencies along with increasing the number of special units operating across the country.

At his post cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon had stated that cabinet along with the central intelligence committee had been briefed on developments by Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj.

A release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Friday stated that Dr Luncheon at the briefing had said that as a result of the minister's update, "emphasis will be placed on coordinating information gathering among the joint services."

The Joint Services comprise the Guyana Prison Service, the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

The Cabinet Secretary was reported to have said that the army was not directly involved in the search for the wanted men, but that it was giving support by being on the look-out for clues in remote areas and along the country's borders.

Luncheon had referred to an increase in the number of special units deployed in the various regions, aimed at maintaining a state of preparedness to detect and apprehend the five criminals.

On February 23, Troy Dick, Dale Moore, Shawn Browne, Mark Fraser and Andrew Douglas escaped the confines of the Camp Street prison.

However, prior to leaving the jail through the front gate, one or more of the escapees was alleged to have fatally stabbed Prison Officer Troy Williams and caused severe injury to fellow officer Roxanne Winfield.

Williams was buried two Fridays ago in his native New Amsterdam and Winfield is still listed as critical in the Intensive Care Unit of Georgetown Public Hospital after being shot in the jaw with the bullet exiting at the side of her ear.