Last week, a 28-year-old Labour MEP candidate stirred controversy with her assertion that there are too many rangers dedicated to environmental protection. Marija Sara Vella Gafà, also serving as Labour’s Gudja Mayor, holds the position of advisor on environmental matters to Minister Miriam Dalli, a role she assumed in 2022.
According to documents obtained by The Shift through a Freedom of Information request, Vella Gafà receives a yearly salary of €54,000 for her full-time advisory role, inclusive of various allowances such as a fully expensed car, expense allowance, and a €5,000 ‘expertise’ allowance, though the specifics of her expertise remain unspecified.
Her responsibilities entail providing counsel to Minister Dalli on environmental issues and any other tasks delegated by the minister. Vella Gafà’s recent controversial statement, perceived as an attempt to court the hunting community’s support, criticized what she perceived as an excessive presence of environmental rangers in rural areas.
In her social media posts, Vella Gafà advocated for a better balance between traditional Maltese pastimes and environmental conservation, questioning the rights of individuals to access private property for environmental protection purposes. This stance resonates with the arguments put forth by the hunters’ federation FKNK, who often oppose bird watchers monitoring illegal hunting activities during the spring season, despite such actions violating EU directives.
Despite the controversy stirred by Vella Gafà’s remarks, Minister Dalli has yet to publicly express agreement or disagreement with her advisor’s position. The Malta Ranger Unit swiftly refuted Vella Gafà’s claims, labeling them as misinformation and emphasizing the significant risks rangers face in their line of duty.
Vella Gafà’s political allegiance to the Labour Party runs deep, coming from a family entrenched in Labour politics. Her father, Paul, a former owner of Velprint Ltd, currently holds a political appointment in Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi’s private secretariat.
Presenting herself as an admirer and mentee of Minister Miriam Dalli, Vella Gafà’s introduction to the electorate emphasizes her alignment with Dalli’s vision, further solidifying her political ties within the Labour Party.
