ENVIRONMENT and Public Services resigned today as the States were poised to debate a vote of no confidence over the bus contract saga.

After weeks of mounting criticism and questioning, spearheaded by vote of no-confidence proposer Senator Ted Vibert, Environment president Deputy Maurice Dubras brought his committee’s 14-month term of office to a close.’Since returning from the Christmas break, it has become very clear to us that, in the shadow of recent events, it is impossible for my committee to properly undertake the duties expected of us by you, our colleagues.

Accordingly I have given notice to the Bailiff, on behalf of the whole committee, that we unanimously tender our resignation,’ he said in the States this morning.The embattled committee has been dogged by controversy over allegations made by Deputy Dubras late last year that Jersey Bus scuppered the 2002 public transport tendering process by failing to inform Public Services of a drivers’ wage increase.