The new Commissioner for Law and daughter of the Minister for the Environment Jose Herrera, Martina Herrera, will earn roughly €11,000 per year, and was selected by the Ministry for Justice Owen Bonnici without any other applicants, the latter has confirmed.

The Minister clarified that the appointment of such a role, as stipulated in law, was always placed under his remit’s discretion.

Herrera, aged 25, acquired her lawyer warrant in February 2017 after graduating the previous November.

Bonnici said that legislation clearly states that the role of Commissioner, which he described as concerning ‘fines given by wardens’, does not necessarily need to be a warranted lawyer.

“Dr Herrera has graduated from a six-year long course and worked for a reputable and successful law firm on the island. I believe that she fits the criteria required for the role. I also feel that young capable lawyers, including women, should be given opportunities in the field.”

While he did acknowledge that the appointment of minister’s relative may cause concern for the public, Bonnici maintained that he has also appointed a number of individuals from Nationalist backgrounds. He also believes that being related to a politician should not hold a person from getting a job.

On the other hand, Minister Herrera has refused to comment on his daughter new role, and over the previous appointment of his niece to the Adoption Board following her graduation from a Bachelor’s degree in Law.

Asked about his daughter and his niece, who had previously served on the adoptions board, a spokesperson said: “Please note that both were eligible and qualified for the appointments made. We also need to point out that both appointments fall outside of Hon Herrera’s remit.” 

When reminded that while the appointments may not fall under his remit, the Minister’s, and his sister Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera’s, well-known history and stature within the legal system, and his obvious relationship with the PM and the cabinet in general, meant that the Minister cannot simply choose to avoid the tough questions the public wanted answers to, the spokesperson said:

“The Minister does not have anything further.”

Meritocracy was once the cornerstone of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s highly successful 2013 election campaign, however, years of alleged nepotism and a lack of transparency has meant that his ‘Taghna Ilkoll’ vision will most likely never be realised. 

When responding to a question by The Malta Independent concerning the issues, Muscat himself had acknowledge his government’s failings in the area.