A new book on the shelves now underscores that life is a journey, not a destination — and we determine our destiny by the direction we take.

‘Tessi’s Highway’ is the autobiography of retired dental surgeon and former Government Minister Clarence Terceira, a political, professional and social trailblazer in the days when Bermudians of Portuguese descent still encountered overt and subtle forms of prejudice in Bermuda.

Dr Terceira, known affectionately as ‘Tessi’, was born in Bermuda in 1927 and educated on the Island, in Canada and in Scotland. Qualifying as a dental surgeon in 1953, he practised in Hamilton for more than three decades.

In the book he discusses not only on his own personal history, but also that of modern Bermuda.

He was a founding member of the United Bermuda Party and a Member of Parliament for 13 years, holding three Cabinet portfolios: Works and Engineering, Education, and Health and Social Services. He also helped to establish the Bermuda Commercial Bank.

Reflecting on his political career, Dr Terceira said he was most proud of having presided over the major extension of Crow Lane at the entrance of the City of Hamilton, the project which became popularly known as ‘Tessi’s Highway’.

An avid sportsman who introduced soccer as an intercollegiate sport to Canada’s Maritime Provinces, Dr Terceira also played cricket and competed in track and field and swimming events.

The grandson of Azorean immigrants, Dr Terceira has a deep interest in Portuguese Bermudian history, and the book contains a lot of interesting information about some of the early Portuguese families that settled in Bermuda, including the Marshalls, Terceiras and Baptistes.

The book is on sale now in local book shops including the Bermuda Bookstore, The Book Mart at Brown and Company and the Book Cellar in St George. See today’s Lifestyle section for more details.