Pacific / Papua New Guinea

Academic wants PNG to change its name to 'Paradise'

20:18 pm on 19 August 2015

A Papua New Guinea academic and former politician, John Waiko, is proposing the country change its name to Paradise.

Professor Waiko put forth the idea at the start of the University of PNG's annual Waigani Seminars - a long running think tank on PNG's policy direction.

He suggests the name be changed by 2025 to coincide with the country's 50th anniversary of independence.

Professor Waiko says the country's current name is a colonial relic that is a drawback and should be discarded.

He is yet to elaborate on why he has suggested the name Paradise.