they were there, 60 years ago, for the launch of television in Guadeloupe

Two friends came to visit us in the premises that Guadeloupe La 1^era (ex RFO) has occupied Morne Bernard in Baie-Mahault since 2000. These are two veterans of the house, who brilliantly made their contribution to the building: Elie Roumiguières and Gilles Mugerin, one was center manager and the other a sound technician, in particular.
On site, they rediscovered the facilities, reunited with former colleagues and remembered their past professional adventures. “You returned to the scene of the crime !” quipped Christelle Martial, journalist from the radio editorial team in the station corridor.

In this year when we are celebrating 60 years of television in Guadeloupe, the two retirees have agreed to share a part of their history within the company… and not the least!

Elie Roumiguières has been an audiovisual professional since 1961 ; his career began in France.
In 1962, he came to Guadeloupe for the first time, to participate in the start-up of the Arnouville transmitter, in Petit-Bourg. A year later, he requested a transfer to the Basse-Terre radio studio.
And, in 1964, he participated in the installation of the TV control room, on Morne Miquel, in Pointe-à-Pitre/Les Abymes. This mission was not easy, since it was necessary to plan all the electrical installations in the building.

The control room was on the ground floor but the studio was upstairs and, the day before, the electricity in the staircase had not yet been completed. We didn't know each other yet, but we were happy to be part of something important. So it was immediately a good atmosphere !

Elie Roumiguières, head of ORTF/RFO center retired since 1998

In his youth, Gilles Mugerin, like a few other colleagues, was taken care of by the Saint-Jean Bosco institute in Gourbeyre, a center which worked with young people in difficulty.
Before joining RFO, he worked for 3 years as an agent for the production company and electricity distribution Guadeloupe (SPEDEG).
He was also there to finalize the installation of the Morne Miquel infrastructure.

We mainly participated in the end of the installation : everything that involves welding, electricity, connecting lamps, etc. Because we had to go quickly ! Within 10 days we had to finish, so we didn't have a time to start, we didn't have a time to finish.

Gilles Mugerin, sound operator retired since 2002

Elie Roumiguières and Gilles Mugerin were there, proud to have contributed, when the Minister of Information Alain Peyrefitte gave the green light for the launch of television in Guadeloupe. It was December 22, 1964, at 3:00 p.m.

Elie was in charge, alongside the minister. For him, the moment was not solemn ; there was so much to do.

It wasn't really an event, we were so busy ! We worked until the last moment, plugging everything in, connecting everything, trying everything. When it happened, well it was over, it was normal ! Afterwards, we realize that we have done something, but when we do it, no (…)

Elie Roumiguières, head of ORTF/RFO center retired since 1998

Elie Roumiguières, head of ORTF/RFO center retired since 1998

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©Alex Robin and Olivier Duflo – Guadeloupe La 1ère

Gilles, for his part, understood the extent of the event more; a revolution on a local scale!
However, focused on his tasks, he did not see the programs broadcast.
It was in the radio studio control room that Gilles Mugerin spoke to us, in front of a sound console, in his element.

It was an extremely rare event, in that there were a few parliamentarians. It must be said that it was a gift from the government, from General De Gaulle (…). I don't remember the program, because I was very focused on what I had to do. I was in the studio upstairs and, as I had to do the sound for the first time, there was a kind of pressure. But it went very well ! (…)

Gilles Mugerin, sound operator retired since 2002

Gilles Mugerin, sound operator retired since 2002

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©Alex Robin and Olivier Duflo – Guadeloupe La 1ère

That day, the archipelago had a little over a hundred television sets, mainly in the Pointe region, around the transmitter.

The first telespeaker was Miss Maguy Nithila.

Television arrived in Basse-Terre two years later.
Color arrived in 1974.

For a few hours a day, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the images broadcast on the air invaded the few equipped homes and businesses, in front of which dozens of relatives, friends, neighbors, passers-by, etc. gathered. For everyone, the hypnotic side of TV lasted for a while ; this first audience was not particular about the programs offered.

Everything we could see, we were happy ! (…) At the beginning, whatever we would have broadcast, it was a wonder ! It was the first time that we could see, in a skylight, something like that !

Gilles Mugerin, sound operator retired since 2002

Gilles Mugerin, sound operator retired since 2002

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©Alex Robin and Olivier Duflo – Guadeloupe La 1ère

Neither Elie Roumiguière nor Gilles Mugerin had a home position at the very beginning.
But this time is memorable for them, because the company had less than fifty employees. ; “it was a family“, they say.

As the years passed, for audiovisual professionals, the change came in the equipment to be used. Almost every 5 years we had to switch to a new technology, to be up to date, says Elie Roumiguières.

For the men and women who worked in the field, heavy and difficult-to-use equipment gave way to less restrictive, more efficient equipment.

During his visit to Morne Bernard, in December 2024, the two friends, who remained very close, had the impression of being in another world than the one they knew.