The writer is wrong about the origin of the island's name. Tintamare means "ado" or "hub-hub" in French. The island was given the name Santa Marie by the Spanish and maps of the time listed it as such. When the French took over St. Martin all they had were some old Spanish maps that were difficult to read and they mistranslated the name. I just checked my French dictionary and it translates the word as racket. I was surprised to find it since old French words that are common in the Caribbean such as marigot and ance are no longer used.