Tribute to a Colleague and Sister, Regina Barton Sagu
Justice Regina Barton Sagu
Justice Sagu was respected and admired for her enduring commitment and outstanding contributions to achieving the principles and objectives of the Constitution of the PNG Judicial Women’s Association (PNGJWA) and the vision of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). As stated by Presidents of Australia and NZ AWJ, and President-elect of IAWJ, in their tribute, Justice Sagu is well known to members of Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the Asia Pacific Region, but also more widely to members of the IAWJ as a regular attendee and contributor to Biennial and Regional Conferences.
Justice Sagu was one of the founding members of the PNGJWA which became affiliated to the IAWJ in 2012. In 2015, she was President of the PNGJWA until her passing.
Among many other founding members, Justice Sagu played a pivotal role in advocating for the enactment of Domestic Violence and Family Law legislations in PNG.
In her presidency, Justice Sagu worked alongside members of PNGJWA and encouraged their active participation in trainings and conferences. In so doing, members’ participation was advanced through building of collegiality and partnership with sister magistrates and Judges in Australia, New Zealand, the Asia Pacific Region and the world.
Through this effort and in combination with her role as Director of the PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence, PNGJWA members were able to benefit greatly from trainings facilitated by sister women Judges and Magistrates in Australia and New Zealand and some of whom were members of the AAWJ and NZAWJ.
Justice Sagu’s profound enthusiasm and dedication over the last five years merited her with a reputation as a progressive leader, great mentor and someone with a teachable and humble spirit. Justice Sagu encouraged and challenged members to do their best, to attend IAWJ Biennial and Regional Conferences and build collegiality. Not only that, but what members described as something she always had time for was that she listened to members on how they were doing as women judicial officers in their own respective court locations in the provinces. She often challenged members to believe in themselves and to be agents of change in their court locations.
Here, in her memory are some of the achievements gained through her leadership:
Greater participation of women magistrates in Judgment Writing Workshop ∙ Participation of women magistrates in Twinning Programs in Brisbane and Sydney Magistrates and Domestic Violence Courts; Youth and Murri Courts, Coroner’s Court and Local Court, and visit to the Judicial Commission of NSW
Greater participation of members in the IAWJ and Asia Pacific Regional Conferences ∙ As president, speaker at the IAWJ Asia Pacific Regional Conference on the PNG Legal Framework and Courts Response to Domestic Violence
Training of Executive members on Train the Trainer workshops, Activity Implementation Plans with Donor Funders; organizing and delivering International Women’s Day Conferences and other workshops
Working with retired women judges in Australia on Family Court Rules on the Lukautim Pikinini Act; the process for DNA Testing and Evidence presentation in Child Maintenance applications and Obtaining and Dealing with child witness evidence in Family Court proceedings
Support towards Madang Safe and Family-friendly Court Project
Started the conversation with smaller Pacific Island women judges and magistrates on a Pacific Association of Women Judges and ∙ Submitted a letter of recommendation to the Judicial Legal Service Commission for consideration of appointment of women as judges in the higher judiciary
Her main mission in PNGJWA which made a great difference in the lives of many members was to challenge members to learn, to grow, to believe in themselves and to be the agents of change in their court locations in delivering justice, fairness and equality to women and children. She supported the twinning visit to Brisbane’s Domestic Violence Court. Upon return, Madang District Court adopted and implemented the Safe Court Concept.
Albert Einstein said, “The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive”. In one word Justice Sagu was a women who gave so much to anyone she came in contact with whether at work, at home, at church or even on the street. She was God-fearing and dedicated her life to service.
For the PNGJWA, she gave much of her time, energy and resources to it. That is why we should speak in celebration of her life and in honour of the work she had done with so much passion and life for PNGJWA and IAWJ.
Here was a life that demanded notice, a life that exemplified service for others, a life that inspired emulation and a life whose light shined so bright so that others’ path were lit.
Late Justice Sagu was visionary and had a teachable spirit towards the younger members. She was a dedicated and loyal colleague who generously passed on her knowledge, expertise and skills with her utmost best. Today in the history of PNG, because of her input women magistrates have performed better and we see the appointment of female Senior Provincial Magistrates in all the Highlands Provinces.
The peak of her career was when she was appointed Judge of the Supreme and National Court of PNG in 2020. The receiving of such an achievement was an honor for her, her family and people and for PNGJWA. But her real value is not in what she has received but in what she continued to give back to us despite her higher calling.
Justice Sagu said: “This appointment is a recognition of women magistrates and their ability to be potential judges in future. I will do my best to write judgments and be a good judicial officer because what I do here will be a testament for younger and aspiring women magistrates. Please write sound judgments and do your best in all that you do”.
Even as she was departing the magistracy to a higher calling, Justice Sagu continued to show her belief in the PNGJWA members. She believed in her sisters and she challenged them to write a lot of good judgments and to do their best where ever they were.
Because of her service and contribution, women magistrates, women and children and PNG are is in a better place than it were/was before.
Sincere condolences to the children and the family of late Justice Sagu. May her Soul Rest In God’s Peace.
Late JUSTICE REGINA BARTON SAGU will be greatly missed by the members of our Association and by our sister magistrates and judges in Australia, New Zealand, the region and the world.
JOB 1:21 The LORD giveth, the LORD taketh. RIEP susa Regina til we meet again in the LORD
Rosie Aize Johnson
Principal Magistrate
Vice President, PNGJWA
Tributes from members
IAWJ Asia Pacific Regional Conference, Philippines, 2019
Deputy Chief Magistrate Rosemary Koimo: She was an amazing woman, full of energy and life and passionate about what she was doing and always did it with faith in God.
She took us members to places where we could only dream of going. She taught and corrected but she never let you walk alone. She held you. She challenged and pushed us because she knew we can do better.
She will live through the aims and objectives of PNGJWA which she pursued as President. I only hope to continue to support PNGJWA in maintaining the standard she has set and continue to advance the Association.
I’ll miss her laughter, her joy, but I truly thank full for the times I had with her. I’m truly blest that she shared her life with me. Memories I will treasure forever. She was my mentor and my mama bear.
A/Principal Magistrate Tracy Ganaii: I have not fully come to terms with Ms Sagu’s departure. I’m still expecting that she will come bouncing into our Association meetings with a big smile on her face along with a happy go lucky personality which would often brighten up the room and calm whatever storm that may be brewing before her arrival. She had a way of connecting to everyone one on one.
But as reality starts to sink in I realize she is gone and we have to continue the good fight that she had led. The fight for justice, fairness and equality for women and children; the fight for the advancement and active participation of PNGJWA members in IAWJ activities, the challenge to push ourselves to learn and to grow, to believe in ourselves and to be better judicial officers in our court locations and to challenge ourselves to write good judgments. I recall her statement upon her appointment as judge in challenging us to write good judgments and to do our best.
Snr Magistrate Laura Wawun-Kuvi: The unfettered support and drive to be better and to do better. She has taught me to have a strong conviction in God and to be determined against all odds.
Snr Magistrate Rebecca Kalepo: I will miss her. She was someone who will greet you and say “My dear how are you?” She made me feel included and encouraged me to participate. Just when she had a lot more to offer she’s now gone. I’m saddened at the loss. It was God’s own timing but the loss is immense. May she rest in eternal peace.
Snr Provincial Magistrate Josephine Kilage: Late Justice Sagu was a role model and a leader of the highest standards. She loved God, her children, and her country with a passion that led her to achieve many milestones. She was one of our first female lawyers and our first female Highlands judge. Most of all she was our friend and had a smile that could light up a room and a look that could put one in their place.
She was a mentor and enabled many young magistrates to become better judicial officers. She was exact, strict but firm and kind. She was larger than life and it is with great sadness that I thank her for her input in my life.
In her capacity as President of PNGJWA and as Executive Director for PNGCJE she trained many magistrates and judges. What an amazing women, a trailblazer, a trendsetter and a pioneer.
Finally she was a surrogate mother, aunty and Bubu to our families. Our children will miss her. I will miss her. Good bye Madam Sagu, with love.
Magistrate Rebecca Kwayaila: Sounds like Justice Sagu was a great person and her passing is surely a loss to the judiciary and also to those that she crossed paths with including some of us who are yet to meet her but are fortunate to be a part of what she believed in and fought for particularly for women judicial officers. May her beautiful soul rest in peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all as you attend the ceremonial sitting and funeral service. Sending my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Justice Sag
Snr Magistrate Karre: She taught me to be bold and gave me the confidence in my capabilities when I was in doubt.
She was kind and compassionate toward others. A true champion who was passionate about the advancement of the role of women judicial officers and in their membership to PNGJWA.
Her tireless efforts to ensure that women in the judiciary were equal players in the development of the rule of law will not be forgotten.
We will continue to carry on her legacy as members of the PNGJWA.
Farewell, mama, Judge.. friend and sister. You will be missed.
Snr Magistrate Kari Po’awai: I knew her as Ms Sagu. To me, she was a friend from law school and a colleague and sister magistrate. She was a great mentor with great leadership skills and of course a great smile and a warm heart. Thank you for taking PNGJWA to greater heights. May your soul rest in eternal peace.
Snr Magistrate Nancy Lipai: A tribute to the most courageous, strong, and loving woman, my sister late Justice Regina Sagu.
Late Justice Sagu was not only a big sister but also a mother, a mentor, a role model and a pillar of strength for women especially in the lower judiciary.
She was well known and admired in her community, village, and province. She was a passionate leader. For those who knew her, she had a big heart. She loved all people from all walks of life and without discrimination. Just her presence brought peace and was calming for any situation. She always had a smile.
Late Justice Sagu was a model of love, compassion and generosity. She never thought of herself first before others. She was always there for those who were in need. When one needed an ear, she listened without judging, condemning or prejudging.
I would always find it easy to pick up the phone and call her at any time of the day or night and she was always there for me. I called her sister Regi and it didn’t matter to her how I addressed her. She was my big sister. I will always remember you for this Regi.
Thank you Justice Sagu for the great privilege of knowing you and for reminding us that the present moment is precious and we should make the most of it by living life to the fullest and always being generous.
Justice Teresa Berrigan: Justice Sagu had enormous energy and loved a challenge. Whatever she did, whether as a Senior Magistrate, a Judge, Director of PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence or Chair of PNGJWA, she did it with dedication, passion and of course, that welcoming and wonderful smile of hers.