It was part of a larger initiative he dubbed "RESTORE Belize", an acronym for "Re-Establish Security Through Outreach Rehabilitation and Education".
The unit's first head was intended to be John Burns Jr., a Belizean American and former Boston Police Department member.
[2] Assistant Superintendent Marco Vidal was named the commander of the new unit; in media interviews soon after, he spoke out in support of a government bill to permit police to hold people in preventive detention for up to 21 days.
[7] One plank of the People's United Party platform in the 2012 elections was the disbandment of the GSU in favour of increased emphasis on neighbourhood watch groups and traditional police patrols.
[8] Despite the controversies, in April after the elections Minister of National Security John Saldivar expressed his support for the GSU.